HC Deb 15 June 1995 vol 261 cc644-5W
Mr. Gerrard

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of HIV and AIDS have been reported in prisons in England and Wales in each year since 1986. [28005]

Mr. Michael Forsyth

Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from A. J. Butler to Mr. Neil Gerrard, dated 15 June 1995: The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the number of cases of HIV and AIDS that have been reported in prisons in England and Wales in each year since 1986. The information is as follows:

Year Cases of HIV (including AIDS) Cases of AIDS
1986 148 1
1987 75 3
1988 61 3
1989 54 5
1990 59 7
1991 26 1
1992–932 51 7
1993–94 27 2
1994–95 23
1995–963 3
1 Figure understates position since 27 other cases were reported in the two years 1985 and 1986, but it is not possible to assign them to a single year.
2 15 month period January 1992—March 1993 (to bring table in line with financial year).
3 Figures for 1995–1996 are as at 30 May 1995.
The table represents the number of new cases of HIV infection confirmed and reported by prison medical officers. The average number of cases in the prison system in England and Wales at any one time has varied between 30 and 70. There are currently 54 prisoners known to have HIV, confirmed and reported by medical officers in the system. These figures do not represent the totality of HIV infection in the prison system. Testing for HIV infection, as in the community, is carried out only with the consent of the prisoner.