§ Mr. Robin CookTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what guidance his Department has issued on the use of pre-employment HIV testing by employers.
§ Mr. NichollsThe booklet "AIDS and Employment" published by my Department and the Health and Safety Executive in 1986 advises employers that, since in almost all occupations there is no risk of infected persons passing on HIV to others, having the virus or belonging to a particular group is not a reason for being treated differently from any other job applicants. It follows from this advice that there is generally no reason for employers to require a job applicant to take an HIV antibody test. Further updated guidance on "AIDS and the Workplace" is to be published shortly.