HL Deb 07 January 2003 vol 642 c193WA
Baroness Rawlings

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What screening of asylum seekers for HIV/AIDS is being done. [HL509]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath)

We do not offer asylum seekers routine testing for HIV. Voluntary and confidential testing is available in this country to anyone who feels that they may have been at risk of infection in free and open access genitor-urinary medicine clinics.

Baroness Rawlings

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the cost to the taxpayer of screening asylum seekers for tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS. [HL510]

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

A person's immigration status is not routinely recorded when they receive a test for tuberculosis or HIV/AIDS, and where this information is recorded it is not collected centrally. It is therefore not possible to calculate the overall cost to the taxpayer of asylum seekers who receive such services.