§ Ms Roseanna CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the numbers of HIV/AIDS sufferers receiving treatment (i) by health board area, (ii) in Wales and (iii) in England; what was the spending per head on treatment and care of HIV/AIDS sufferers in England; if he will give the spending in England and Wales on prevention of HIV/AIDS, in the most recent year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [4214]
§ Ms JowellThe total number of HIV positive individuals (including those with AIDS) receiving treatment in 1995 in England was 13,146. In Wales the corresponding total was 197. These data are derived from the National Survey of Prevalent Diagnosed HIV Infections, and record all identified HIV infected patients treated by statutory services during 1995. This is the latest year for which figures are available. The data cover all areas in England but there may be a small element of under reporting. The breakdown of numbers treated in each Regional Office area in England is as follows:
299W
Number Northern and Yorkshire 532 Trent 407 Anglia and Oxford 509 North Thames 7,014
Number South Thames 2,693 South and West 686 West Midlands 410 North Western 895 The total number for Wales is as follows:
Wales: 197The total allocation for AIDS treatment and care in England in 1995–96 was £195.1 million. The funds are allocated to health authorities on the basis of the number of AIDS cases reported by the authority to the Public Health Laboratory Service. The funds are directed by health authorities mainly to the statutory health care services, but may also be used to fund a range of other service providers as determined by local needs assessment.
The funds are no longer ringfenced and it is up to health authorities, taking account of local needs assessment and priorities, to determine their local priorities for expenditure. The allocations for AIDS treatment and care in England for 1996–97 totalled £185.7 million, the reduction was because the latest AIDS projections report indicated that the number of people alive with AIDS and severe HIV disease in 1996–97 would be around 10 per cent. lower than previously projected. The allocations for 1997–98 are £199.6 million. This increase represents a contribution towards the costs of new combination therapies. In 1995–96 £49.6 million was allocated to health authorities in England for HIV prevention. These funds continue to be ringfenced, and the corresponding totals for 1996–97 and 1997–98 are £51.3 and £52.3 million respectively. In Wales the majority of expenditure on HIV/AIDS is targeted at preventative measures. The expenditure in 1995–96 totals £2.2 million.