§ Mrs. Gillian Shephardasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what funds are being made available to meet the cost of services for people with AIDS or HIV infection; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NewtonIn addition to the overall increase of 8.8 per cent. in 1987–88 in allocations to regional health authorities for hospital and community health services as a whole, including needs arising from AIDS and HIV infection, the Government have already made additional allocations totalling £6 million to the three regional health authorities on whom demands arising from AIDS have fallen disproportionately. These are North-West Thames, North-East Thames and South-East Thames. The first of these alone had well over half of all AIDS patients in England at the end of September; the three together accounted for over four out of every five.
We have been keeping the position under careful review, and have decided to make available to these authorities a further £6.5 million in 1987–88 in recognition of the special extra demands placed upon them. North-West Thames will receive £3.9 million; North-East Thames £1.6 million; and South-East Thames £1 million.
We also propose to make available a further £1.1 million in 1987–88 to the Public Health Laboratory Service to meet extra costs arising from HIV testing and monitoring the spread of infection, and a further £200,000 for associated work at the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control.