AIDS (Hansard, 15 June 1990)

We are firmly committed to taking effective action to minimise the spread of HIV infection.

All blood donations are tested for HIV antibody and people who may have been exposed to HIV are asked not to donate blood. As a consequence, the risks of infection with HIV through blood transfusion in this country have been reduced to the lowest level currently possible.

We recognise the grave potential for spreading HIV through the use of infected injecting equipment by drug users. To counter this threat we have asked agencies working with drug users to maximise the number of users they are in contact with and to make HIV prevention activities a key part of their work. Advice has been issued on the establishment of syringe and needle exchange schemes, and on cleaning injecting equipment. We are also considering the role pharmacists have to play in the provision of injecting equipment in the light of the recent report of the addiction research unit, a copy of which is in the Library.

Sexual transmission of HIV remains the major threat: national and local action has been set in hand to meet that threat. Nationally, the Health Education Authority runs mass media campaigns and back-up activities aimed at the general public, with targeted work directed at groups at particular risk. Locally, health authorities have been asked to develop HIV prevention initiatives, in collaboration with local authorities and voluntary bodies, paying particular attention to HIV prevention services in genito-urinary medicine clinics.

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This year health authorities are receiving £128 million specifically for HIV and AIDS-related work, local authorities have been allocated a £9.8 million support grant, and we expect to make grants of £1.8 million to voluntary bodies working in this field.

We expect action on all aspects of HIV prevention will have to be sustained for the foreseeable future, and the need for further action will be kept closely under review.