§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Defence over what period the 1st Battalion, Queen's Own Highlanders was stationed in Kenya.
§ Mr. Freeman[pursuant to his reply, 13 January 1987, c. 159]: The 1st Battalion, Queen's Own Highlanders was deployed to Kenya for an exercise which took place between 22 October and 10 December 1986. It was airlifted to Kenya on several flights, the first of which arrived in Kenya on 12 October. It returned to the United Kingdom, again on several flights, the last of which left Kenya on 18 December.
§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department and the RAMC respectively became aware that the AIDS virus was common in parts of Kenya.
§ Mr. Freeman[pursuant to his reply, 13 January 1987, c. l59]: Although a report in a medical journal in December 1984 had indicated a high prevalence of AIDS in Central Africa, the extent of the problem in other parts of Africa was not widely known either in general or by my Department or the RAMC until early 1986.
§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department and the RAMC respectively became aware that the AIDS virus could be transmitted by heterosexual relations.
§ Mr. Freeman[pursuant to his reply, 13 January 1987, c. 159]: The possibility of transfer of the AIDS virus by heterosexual intercourse was first known by the MOD and RAMC in 1984.
733WBased on the knowledge at that time, the risk of wider dissemination of AIDS through heterosexual intercourse was thought to be extremely low.
§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many of all ranks of the 1st Battalion, Queens Own Highlanders are known to the Royal Army Medical Corps to have venereal disease caught in Kenya.
§ Mr. Freeman[pursuant to his reply, 13 January 1987, c. 159]: It is not my Department's policy to disclose information on medical matters which is covered by medical confidentiality rules.
§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Defence what orders or advice on the risk of AIDS from prostitutes in Kenya were given to officers and other ranks of the 1st Battalion, Queens Own Highlanders.
§ Mr. Freeman[pursuant to his reply, 13 January 1987, c. 159]: Following common practice for all units moving overseas, the 1st Battalion, Queens Own Highlanders was instructed on all relevant health hazards, including heart illness, malaria and communicable disease (which includes sexually transmitted disease and AIDS), by the mobile health inspection team prior to its departure. A handout was distributed throughout the battalion which high-lighted the increased danger of association with prostitutes.
§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Defence what orders or advice have been issued to members of each of the armed forces about the dangers of AIDS; and when they were issued.
§ Mr. Freeman[pursuant to his reply, 13 January 1987, c. 159]: In late October 1986 distribution began of copies of the Health Education Council booklet, "AIDS—what everyone needs to know". Every member of the armed forces is to receive a copy. It contains information on the disease and an insert advising anyone who believes himself to be at risk to seek immediate advice and counselling from unit medical officers. The booklet issue should be completed shortly.
734W
Week 2 (5 January 1987 to 11 January 1987) Daily mean value Weekly means Local office name Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday -0.6 Aberdeen AP 2.3 2.2 2.8 -1.0 -2.3 -3.4 -4.4 -0.4 Dumfries 5.6 2.9 1.3 -3.5 -3.3 -1.2 -4.9 -1.2 Edinburgh AP 3.3 2.8 -1.5 -4.0 -2.8 -2.3 -4.1 T -2.0 Eskdalemuir 2.6 1.3 0.4 -5.6 -3.8 -2.2r j 8.3 -6.9 -0.1 Fort William 4.5 2.3 -1.8 -3.3 -1.0 -0.3 -1.3 -0.6 Glasgow AP 4.0 2.6 -1.8 -4.5 -1.8 0.6 -3.3 -0.6 Kinloss 2.6 2.5 1.8 -1.9 -3.0 -2.3 -4.0 1.8 Kirkwall 2.9 3.1 2.6 2.6 1.4 1.9 -2.0 1.6 Lerwick 2.5 2.0 2.8 3.2 3.3 0.1 -2.6 -0.4 Leuchars 2.8 3.1 0.4 -3.4 -2.3 -1.4 -2.3 1.9 Machrihanish 5.0 4.9 0.0 1.0 1.5 2.5 -1.6 0.4 Prestwick 4.8 3.4 -1.0 -1.8 0.4 1.0 -3.9 2.3 Stornoway 3.4 3.5 3.0 2.5 3.3 0.5 -0.6 1.5 Whithorn 6.3 3.1 0.1 0.1 1.8 1.1 -2.3 1.1 Wick 2.1 2.1 1.5 -0.3 1.0 1.9 -1.0 2.1 Aberporth 6.1 5.5 2.4 0.6 2.0 2.0 -3.6 1.9 Brawdy 6.4 5.3 0.7 0.6 1.6 2.2 -3.3 2.3 Bristol 7.5 6.3 3.4 0.2 0.8 1.6 -3.5 2.6 Chivenor 7.9 6.9 1.2 0.3 1.6 2.9 -2.8 0.1 Cilfyndd 5.8 3.6 -1.0 -1.7 -1.4 0.5 -5.0 4.4 Culdrose 7.9 6.3 2.1 4.3 6.6 3.3 0.3 2.0 Exeter 7.6 5.7 0.9 0.0 1.5 1.9 -3.4 Posters warning of the AIDS danger were circulated at the same time for prominent display in service units.
Since last summer AIDS warnings have been incorporated in all drug education briefing for service personnel.
Comprehensive briefing is also given by medical staffs to service personnel serving, or about to deploy, overseas on the dangers of human immunodeficiency virus infection. The surgeon general's staff has also issued through the medical chain of command, for distribution to all medical officers, DHSS booklets, 1, 2 and 3 "Information and Guidance on AIDS on handling of HIV anti-body positive cases".