§ 13. Mr. Wallerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many cases of acquired immune deficiency syndrome have been diagnosed to date; and how many deaths have resulted from the disease.
§ Mr. FowlerThe figure at the end of December 1986 was 610, of whom 293 have died.
§ 19. Mr. Meadowcroftasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action his Department is taking to train counsellors for AIDS victims; and what numbers of counsellors are estimated to be needed by 1994.
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§ Mr. NewtonWe have provided funding for programmes of training in counselling at three centres—in London, Birmingham and Bolton. More than 2,350 people have been on courses provided by the London and Bolton units. It is not at present possible to estimate the number of counsellors who will be needed in 1994.
§ 34. Mr. Dykesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what assessment he has made of the impact amongst the general public of the Government's recent publicity campaign on the dangers of AIDS.
§ Mr. NewtonThere is a continuing programme of research to monitor the effectiveness of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome publicity campaign and a full assessment will be made when detailed results are available. An initial evaluation of the newspaper advertising in November showed an encouraging response; the advertisements put across the main messages well and 69 per cent. of adults interviewed claimed to have seen at least one advertisement, an unusually high level of recall.
§ 37. Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will now approve a scheme for the supply of clean needles for drug addicts to prevent the further spread of the AIDS virus.
§ Mr. NewtonI refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to my hon. Friend the Member for Halifax (Mr. Galley) on 18 December 1986 at column703.
§ 50. Mr. Galleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received about the programme of research into the causes of and cures for AIDS being sponsored by his Department.
§ Mr. NewtonLast year we had nine parliamentary questions and six letters from hon. Members about research relating to acquired immune deficiency syndrome.