§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the projects undertaken by the Health Education Authority on AIDS since its inception; what the budget for each project was; whether each project was approved by his Department; and what projects suggested by the authority have not received departmental approval.
§ Mr. MellorInformation is not available in exactly the form requested because the HEA's work on AIDS is not funded on a project by project basis. The procedure followed is that the HEA draws up an operational programme which is discussed with Ministers in the authority's annual accountability review. Once the operational programme and budget for AIDS have been agreed the Health Education Authority discusses with the Department (and for United Kingdomwide mass media work, with the other Health Departments also) detailed proposals for implementing the operational programme. These arrangements are intended to ensure that material which is distributed is consistent with overall Government policy on HIV prevention. The work on HIV/AIDS carried out the the HEA is set out in "AIDS Programme Paper 4: The First Annual Report: October 1987 to September 1988", a copy of which has been placed in the Library.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the advice received from the Health Education Authority regarding policy towards AIDS; and what has been his response to the advice received.
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§ Mr. MellorOne of the functions of the Health Education Authority is to give advice to Government on health education issues, including those relating the HIV/AIDS. This can be given formally or informally, privately or publicly and at various levels and the Government take account of this in reaching decisions on aspects of policy on HIV infection and AIDS.