HC Deb 28 April 1987 vol 115 cc114-5W
Sir David Price

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the Official Report the number of cases of sexually transmitted diseases in the United Kingdom in each of the last 10 years.

Mr. Newton

The information requested is not available in the precise form requested.

Sexually transmitted diseases are not notifiable and figures are not available about those who receive private treatment or treatment from their general practitioners. The table shows the number of new cases treated in National Health Service genito-urinary medicine clinics in England and Wales. These are thought to represent about 90 per cent. of all cases. Figures for Scotland are the responsibility of my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, and for Northern Ireland my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

patients diagnosed as having familial hyperlipidaernia with particular reference to the sex and age when diagnosed of patients;

(2) whether he will recommend that tests for familial hyperlipidaemia are included in medical examinations for all members of the armed forces, the police force and the Civil Service.

Mrs. Currie

[pursuant to her reply, 27 April 1987, c. 31]: Familial hyperlipidoemia (FH) (excess of fatty substances in the blood) is an inherited condition, causing an increased risk of heart attack and sometimes stroke at an early age. Information on the incidence of the condition is not collected centrally.

A workshop, on screening for risk of coronary heart disease, held at the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh, in November 1985, concluded that there was no justification at the present time for general screening of the population. Since there is no professional or scientific consensus on the need for general population screening, it would not be appropriate to undertake routine tests on members of individual professions at present.

The Family Heart Association makes available information on this condition.