Health Bill [HL]

There is a large number of people in this country who are HIV infected but who do not know their HIV status. One estimate I have seen is that there are as many as 20,000 of them and many are in the immigrant population, including asylum seekers. This risks the further spread of infection for obvious reasons. Many of these people are put off seeking tests, because they fear both that it might affect their immigration status and, as the noble Baroness has said, the potential costs of treatment should they be so diagnosed. The amendment will protect public health in this country and should therefore be supported.