HC Deb 01 February 1972 vol 830 cc54-5W
24. Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will publish the most recent figures for venereal disease for a period of 12 calendar months; and by how much known incidence of the disease has increased over the past five years.

Mr. Alison

Recent figures for the venereal diseases were published in the 1970 Annual Report of the Chief Medical Officer. New cases at clinics in England in 1970 compared with five years earlier show decreases of 20 per cent. and 23 per cent. for syphilis and chancroid, respectively, and an increase of 49 per cent. for gonorrhoea. For the first three quarters of 1971 gonorrhoea shows an increase of 6.8 per cent. over the first three quarters of 1970.