HC Deb 15 November 1988 vol 140 cc555-7W
Mr. Pawsey

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is the minimum and maximum incubation period for acquired immune deficiency syndrome;

Mr. Mellor

I shall write to my hon. Friend.

Mr. Ralph Howell

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will state the percentage of pay that is overtime in the National Health Service for administrative clerical and staff grades for the years 1960, 1970, 1979, 1983, 1985 and 1988;

(2) if he will state the percentage of pay that is overtime in the National Health Service for nurses and midwives in 1960, 1970, 1979, 1983, 1985 and 1988;

(3) if he will state the amount paid to nurses and midwives, as a total, and as an average salary for 1960, 1970, 1979, 1984, 1988; and if he will also state the average working week in hours for nurses and midwives for those years.

Mr. Mellor

I shall write to my hon. Friend.

Mr. Ralph Howell

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will state(a) the number of persons and (b) whole-time equivalents for the National Health Service grades of (a) medical and dental, (b) nursing and midwifery, (c) professional and technical, (d) works, (e) maintenance, (f) administration and clerical, (g) ambulance and (h) ancillary for 1979, 1984 and 1988.

Mr. Mellor

Such information as is available is shown in the table. Figures for 30 September 1988 are not yet available.

(2) what is the current number of acquired immune deficiency syndrome sufferers in the United Kingdom; and at what rate this is increasing;

(3) what is the period within which the incidence of immune deficiency syndrome is currently doubling;

(4) what is the latest projection, on the basis of the current state of medical advice and knowledge, of the likely number of acquired immune deficiency syndrome sufferers in each year up to 2000.

Mr. Mellor

By the end of October 1988 1,862 cases of AIDS had been reported in the United Kingdom, an increase of 66 per cent. over the corresponding figure in 1987. The doubling time for cases is about 14 months. The incubation period between infection with HIV and the development of AIDS can vary from months up to many years, with the average at present thought to be about seven to eight years. Making accurate predictions of future numbers of AIDS cases is difficult, even in the short term. An expert group set up under the chairmanship of Sir David Cox to consider future prevalence has recently submitted its report which we are now carefully considering.

Mr. Pawsey

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is the estimated total annual cost to public funds for treating acquired immune deficiency syndrome sufferers in the United Kingdom; and what is the total amount being spent on research into the disease;

(2) what level of resources his Department plans to devote to combating acquired immune deficiency syndrome in each yar till 1995; and if he will make a statement;

(3) what steps he has taken to satisfy himself as to the adequacy of the level of resources currently devoted to combating the threat posed by acquired immune deficiency syndrome; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Mellor

We carefully monitor the work of the Health Education Authority, Medical Research Council and the National Health Service in relation to HIV infection and AIDS.

The Government have committed substantial extra resources towards the cost of treatment and for research. It has not been possible to separate fully the total costs of treating people with AIDS, particularly because the effects of AIDS and other HIV-related conditions on individuals can vary widely. An additional £76 million was made available to health authorities and boards this year. Following the statement by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State announced that an extra £68 million would be made available for AIDS-related services in England next year. Between 1984–85 and 1987–88 £13.8 million of Government money was spent on research. For 1988–89 the Government are spending around £13 million including £5 million for the Medical Research Council's directed research programme into vaccines and drugs. A further £23.5 million has been committed to the Medical Research Council's directed programme in 1989–90 to 1991–92. Research is also being funded by university departments and by pharmaceutical companies.