HC Deb 15 December 1988 vol 143 c706W
30. Mr. Butler

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the level of HIV infection amongst prisoners.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

On 5 December 1988 the number of reported HIV antibody positive prisoners in England and Wales was 55. These are the identified cases. An informed assessment of the rate of infection in the prison population could be made only by taking the unacceptable step of requiring prisoners to submit to blood testing arrangements different from those which apply in the general community. Prisoners will, however, where appropriate be included in future approved research programmes based on anonymous blood testing.