§ Mr. HargreavesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions her Department has had with South Birmingham health authority concerning the incident of a HIV positive man infecting a number of women in Birmingham; what proposals her Department intends to bring forward to amend the law to render this type of behaviour a criminal offence; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. SackvilleThe Department is in close touch with South Birmingham health authority about this case and is considering carefully a range of wider issues related to it.
We have asked the health authority to ensure that everything possible is being done to protect the public health and that it is satisfied with the care being offered to all those concerned. We have also emphasised the need to maintain confidentiality.
Questions of criminal law are for my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary. We understand, however, that there are difficulties both in principle and in practice with creating an offence of this sort. These are being considered carefully by my right hon. and learned Friend, who will look at the precedents in other countries before reaching a final view.