HL Deb 09 November 1998 vol 594 cc74-5WA
Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have a strategy to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted disease among prisoners; and whether they will instruct governors that condoms should be issued to prisoners on request. [HL3632]

Lord Williams of Mostyn

The Prison Service's strategy for preventing the spread of sexually transmitted diseases is based on the recommendations in the report,The Review of HIV and AIDS in Prison, by the Prison Service AIDS Advisory Committee, a copy of which was placed in the Library on publication in 1995. In addition, guidance is available to prison staff and doctors on the management and prevention of other communicable diseases, such as Hepatitis B and C. A programme of education and training is in place, for both staff and prisoners, covering the prevention, risk reduction and harm minimisation of sexually transmitted diseases.

Prison doctors have already been advised that they can make condoms available to prisoners if, in their judgement, there is a risk of infection from HIV. The Prison Service is looking at ways of strengthening that advice.