§ Mr. Knoxasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has made a decision on the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984 provisions to be made available to help to control the spread of acquired immune deficiency syndrome.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe Public Health (Infectious Diseases) Regulations 1985 have been laid today and will come into effect tomorrow. These regulations will make the disease subject to certain provisions of the 1984 Act which already operate in respect of other infectious diseases. They are intended for use in very exceptional circumstances only. They will allow for medical examination, removal to hospital and detention there of patients in a dangerously infectious state and will be used if ever the necessity should arise. The regulations will also allow restrictions to be placed on the handling of bodies of AIDS sufferers.
I am satisfied that the authorities do not require any further new legal powers at the moment to protect the general public against the spread of the disease. We will however keep the legal position under review.