§ Mr. ButlerTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what proposals his Department has to commission studies of the effects of Ampligen in the treatment of AIDS in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. NewtonThe Department does not directly commission studies of novel compounds of possible value in the treatment of AIDS. However, the Medical Research Council has established a committee to consider all promising therapies, including Ampligen, and this committee will commission and co-ordinate studies where appropriate.
§ Mr. ButlerTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has on the number of United Kingdom health care workers who have become HIV positive as a result of blood splashes from patients.
§ Mr. NewtonNo reports have been received by the communicable disease surveillance centre of any United Kingdom health care worker becoming HIV positive as a result of blood splashes from patients.
§ Mr. ButlerTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has as to forward projections of AIDS infections in other countries.
§ Mr. NewtonWe have had discussions with a number of countries which are looking into the question of forward projections of AIDS cases and HIV infection. They all accept that it is extremely difficult to make a prediction with any accuracy. Based on numbers of AIDS cases reported to them, and estimates of HIV infection, the World Health Organisation has made a broad projection that in the next five years between half a million and 3
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The number of social security appeals heard and average time between lodgement of appeal and hearing (weeks) Quarter ending 30 June 1986 30 September 1986 31 December 1986 31 March 1987 North Eastern region (including Newcastle) Total number of social security appeals heard 4,788 5,048 5,185 6,408 Average time between lodgement and hearing (weeks) 14.2 15.7 13.7 17.1 Great Britain Total number of social security appeals heard 31,347 30,456 33,145 37,685 Average time between lodgement and hearing (weeks) 16.1 16.1 15.4 18.2 million deaths from AIDS can be expected throughout the world, with perhaps 50 million to 100 million persons infected with the virus.