§ Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list those regional health authorities that have not forwarded district health authority complete service plans on acquired immune deficiency syndrome as requested in circular HC (86)2; and if he will list those district health authorities that have yet to draw up such plans.
§ Mr. Gareth Wardellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report for each health authority the number of persons receiving treatment for acquired immune deficiency syndrome for each of the past five years.
§ Mr. Chris Smithasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what funds Her Majesty's Government have so far (a) allocated and (b) spent specifically on the fight against acquired immune deficiency syndrome, categorised under (i) research, (ii) public information and education, (iii) additional health care facilities, (iv) support for voluntary agencies and organisations and (v) other aspects.
§ Mr. NewtonI shall write to the hon. Members.
§ Mr. Gareth Wardellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has as to whether any persons in the United Kingdom have contracted acquired immune deficiency syndrome following transfusions of infected blood that was not detected in the screening process; and what information he has about the efficacy of the screening process in other countries.
§ Mr. NewtonThe safety of the blood supply in the United Kingdom is maintained in two ways. First, those people who may have been exposed to the AIDS virus are told they must not donate blood. Secondly, as explained in my reply to the hon. Member on 3 November at column 356, all donations are now tested and no cases of AIDS virus transmission through blood transfusion have been reported since testing was introduced. Comprehensive information on other countries who test blood donations for HIV antibody is not available, but their experience is understood to be comparable.