HC Deb 21 July 1997 vol 298 cc414-5W
Ms Roseanna Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many new HIV infections there have been in England and Wales among(a) intravenous drug-users, (b) heterosexuals and (c) homosexuals in the age groups (1) 16 to 25, (2) 26 to 35, (3) 36 to 45, (4) 46 to 55 and (5) over 55s by health authority (i) each year since 1985 and (ii) in total; if he will list the year-on-year change in each group in percentage terms; and if he will make a statement about the Government's targeting of HIV-AIDS prevention materials. [9222]

Ms Jowell

Tables showing diagnosed HIV infections reported to the public health laboratory service communicable disease surveillance centre, based on data to the end of June 1997, have been placed in the Library. Individuals often do not seek testing unless they believe themselves to be at risk or develop symptoms; hence reported HIV infections underestimate the true number of cases. In addition, these figures are subject to under-reporting.

Data are given by region because presenting data by health authorities may enable deductive disclosure about individuals in low-prevalence areas and health authorities boundaries have changed over time. Tables showing year on year percentage changes by probable exposure category, age group and region have been prepared.

National health promotion campaigns for HIV-AIDS are targeted in line with the UK Health Department's strategy, "HIV and AIDS Health Promotion: An Evolving Strategy", November 1995. This emphasised the need for better targeting of vulnerable groups as well as the need to inform the general population about the continuing potential risks from HIV. The strategy identified vulnerable groups as gay men—in particular, young gay men—bisexuals and other men who have sex with men, injecting drug users, men and women who travel to or have links with high prevalence countries, currently those in sub-Saharan Africa, and women partners of men in these groups.

In line with the strategy, main Department of Health contracts for national HIV-AIDS health promotion work are with:

  1. (a) the Terrence Higgins Trust: to undertake through community-based groups, targeted HIV-AIDS health promotion work for gay and bisexual men in England.
  2. (b) the Health Education Authority: to undertake health promotion work for the general population.

In addition, the Department is currently developing a national programme of HIV-AIDS health promotion work for sub-Saharan African communities living in England.

Guidance issued by the Department to health authorities on the use of ring-fenced HIV prevention funds stresses the need for locally targeted HIV prevention and health promotion programmes aimed at the groups identified in the evolving strategy.

The Government have encouraged the development of needle and syringe exchange schemes in order to reduce the harm caused by injecting drugs, in particular the risk of transmitting blood-born viruses. Guidance issued to health and local authorities in March 1997 asked commissioners to address the needs of injecting drug misusers as a priority, by ensuring that they have access to needle and syringe exchanges and appropriate treatment services.