HC Deb 19 February 1988 vol 127 cc785-6W
Mr. Frank Field

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the cost, in a full year, of screening all pregnant women for HIV infection.

Mr. Newton

[holding answer 9 Februarry 1988]: Using the latest estimated number of conceptions, the cost of providing a test to all pregnant women in England to screen for HIV infection would probably be about £4 million a year. Actual costs will depend on a number of factors including the additional costs for counselling and whether the blood taken was used for other tests.

Mr. Newton

[holding answer 8 February 1988]: I regret that information in the form requested is not available centrally. The table shows the numbers entering registered and enrolled nurse training in England for each of the last 10 years, expressed as a percentage of the population aged 18. About 40 per cent. of entrants to nurse training are aged 18, and 90 per cent. are female. All but a tiny minority of these will have entered training with the National Health Service.