§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what evidence there is from other countries of AIDS victims developing a dangerously infectious state such as would justify use of the Public Health (Infectious Diseases) Regulations 1985.
§ Mr. Newton[pursuant to his reply, 16 February 1987, c. 512–13]: There is no evidence that AIDS overseas is more readily infectious than AIDS in this country.
§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to decide whether to extend practice of handing out free syringes to drug addicts; if he will list the hospitals where the trial is being conducted; and how he will assess the impact of the practice on the spread of AIDS.
§ Mr. Newton[pursuant to his reply, 16 February 1987, c. 513]: My right hon. Friend announced in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Halifax (Mr. Galley) on 18 December 1986 at column 703 the establishment of a small number of schemes where drug misusers will be able both to receive counselling and exchange used needles and syringes for sterile equipment. Discussions about the operation of these schemes are currently under way in a number of locations and we hope to approve the first schemes shortly.
Independent research will be commissioned to monitor changes in the attitudes and behaviour of those using the schemes with regard to the sharing of injecting equipment, misuse of drugs and sexual practices. We hope to receive preliminary findings towards the end of the year and that these will help us assess the efficacy of such schemes in combating the spread of HIV infection.
§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services on what grounds HIV infection has not been made a notifiable disease.
§ Mr. Newton[pursuant to his reply, 16 February 1987, c. 513]: We already have a system of voluntary reporting in confidence of AIDS cases and HIV antibody positive cases to the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre and the Communicable Disease for Scotland Unit. This system is working well and there appear no advantages at present in replacing it by a statutory system.