HC Deb 09 January 2003 vol 397 cc331-2W
Mrs. Calton

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money has been spent by the Government on sexual health in each of the last six years. [86569]

Ms Blears

Prior to the development of the sexual health and HIV strategy, there was no central departmental budget for sexual health. Funding was available under the Section 64 General Scheme (section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968) and other central budgets to fund a variety of projects and organisations involved in sexual health provision and health promotion. Allocations for HIV/AIDS, which were mainstreamed from April 2002; are shown in the table.

Following publication of the sexual health and HIV strategy, new investment of £47.5 million was announced to support initiatives in the strategy. During 2001–02, we invested £5.5 million to prepare for implementation. During 2002–03, we have invested a further £14 million, including over £5 million in genitourinary medicine services, £1.5 million to roll out the chlamydia screening programme and £2 million to launch the national information campaign.

The vast majority of funding for sexual health services is from mainstream national health service allocations to health authorities, up to March 2002, and primary care trusts.

HIV/AIDS funding, England
£ million
NHS Local authorities Voluntary sector
1996–97 237.7 13.7 1.63
1997–98 251.9 13.7 1.52
1998–99 281.4 13.7 1.58
1999–2000 286.4 15.5 1.60
2000–01 289.4 16.0 1.32
2001–02 331.0 16.5 1.16

pregnancy choices and funding for Fertility UK was Section 64 funding to support the central office of this organisation for the purposes of family planning.