§ Mr. Gareth Wardellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report (a) how much the Government have budgeted to spend on their AIDS advertising campaign during the current financial year and (b) the items on which the Government have spent money on any other aspect of AIDS, together with the sums allocated.
§ Mr. NewtonOf the £20 million over 12 months which is being made available for publicity and information about AIDS, it is expected that some £6 million to £7 million will fall into the financial year 1986–87. This is in addition to about £1 million which was spent before the major campaign was launched. Details of the aspects of AIDS on which other expenditure in England is planned or has been allocated were given in my right hon. Friend's692W replies to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) on 1 December 1986, at column 525–26, and to my hon. Friend the Member for Halifax (Mr. Galley) on 18 December 1986, at column 703.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proposals he has to increase the number of medical and nursing staff to meet the increasing burden of AIDS patients on the hospital service.
§ Mr. NewtonAll health authorities are expected to take account of present and future needs for services for AIDS patients in their plans. At present the great majority of such patients is being treated in three of the Thames health regions. These regions are receiving an additional allocation of £2.5 million this year towards the costs of treating AIDS patients. We are considering what additional resources should be allocated to assist them in dealing with this work in 1987–88. It will be for the health authorities to determine the way in whch they are spent.