§ Mr. McCrindleasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will consider expanding trade-in centres for drug addicts' injection kits; if he proposes to allow hospitals to provide free sterile needles in exchange; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. CurrieWe are considering urgently possible measures to reduce the spread of the AIDS virus amongst drug misusers. In doing so we are looking carefully at the question of the availability of injecting equipment. We hope to be able to make an announcement shortly.
§ Mr. McCrindleasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied that all blood supplies used for transfusion purposes are free from the acquired immune deficiency syndrome virus; whether some acquired immune deficiency syndrome viruses are not detectable in blood supplies; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NewtonI shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.
§ Sir Gerard Vaughanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will announce urgently when he will commence distributing the leaflets on acquired immune deficiency syndrome to the general public; whether the leaflet is ready for printing; and what information he has as to whether the General Post Office is willing and prepared to start distribution as soon as asked.
§ Mr. Newton[pursuant to his reply, 18 November 1986, c. 152]: The leaflet for all households is currently being printed. The Post Office is giving the fullest co-operation to ensure that the leaflet will be distributed as soon as possible in the new year.