Written question asked by Lord Mann (Labour) on Thursday, 28 November 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 9 December 2002. It was answered by Hilary Benn (Labour) on Monday, 9 December 2002 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will undertake a study of the proportion of prisoners who are positive for hepatitis C (a) on reception and (b) on discharge. - (Holding answer 4 December 2002).

Answer: John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will undertake a study of the proportion of prisoners who are positive for hepatitis C (a) on reception and (b) on discharge. [85038] Hilary Benn: [holding answer 4 December 2002]: The Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS) undertook an unlinked, anonymised survey of the prevalence of blood borne viruses among prisoners in England in 1997-98. This indicated that nine per cent. of adult men, 11 per cent. of women and 0.6 per cent. of male young offenders had evidence of previous exposure to Hepatitis C. The need for further studies in this area is kept under review.

Secondary information