House of Lords appoint new Committee on HIV and AIDS in the UK

Lord Fowler was Secretary of State for Social Services, with responsibility for public health, between 1981-1987, he played a leading role in developing the first national public awareness campaign.

The Committee will look in detail at HIV and AIDS in the UK. They will publish a Call for Evidence in the New Year and invite written evidence from any interested parties. They will then hold public evidence session before producing a report next summer.

The Membership of the Committee agreed by the House of Lords today is:

Lord Fowler (Chairman)
Baroness McIntosh of Hudnall
Lord Gardiner of Kimble
Baroness Masham of Ilton
Baroness Gould of Potternewton
Lord May of Oxford
Baroness Healy of Primrose Hill
Lord Rea
Baroness Hussein-Ece
Baroness Ritchie of Brompton
Lord McColl of Dulwich
Baroness Tonge

Commenting following the creation of the Committee Lord Fowler, said:

"The Committee’s report will appear almost exactly a quarter of a century since the ‘Don’t Die of Ignorance‘ campaign in 1986. This is a good time to review the success of prevention and treatment policies. In the last 25 years various efforts have been made to check the spread of the infection. Nevertheless today the number of people living with HIV is nearing 100,000.
 
"The committee will examine whether public education has been effective and how it might be improved; and also the importance of early diagnosis. Currently about 27 per cent of those with HIV do not know that they are infected.
 
"The committee will examine what improvements can be made in testing and consider evidence of discrimination. A call for evidence will be issued in the New Year.”