§ Mr. ButlerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in the light of recent research undertaken amongst drug addicts by the communicable disease surveillance unit in Glasgow, he will now introduce legislation to make the passing of HIV infection knowingly or deliberately a criminal offence; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John PattenAs my hon. Friend is aware, we have considered most carefully whether to propose new offences592W of this kind. For the present, however, it is still our conclusion that new offences would not materially assist in preventing the transmission of the virus and could discourage potential carriers from coming forward for testing.