To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the latest evidence as to the efficiency of the heterosexual transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus; and whether he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to my earlier reply to him on 11 December 1990 at column 502. A number of scientific journals have contained articles on this topic; these include the British Medical Journal (18 February 1989, pp 401-2, 411-15) and "AIDS 1988 2" (supplement 1) pp S49-56, copies of which are available in the Library.