To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department plans to take to ensure that future funding for social services provision for HIV positive people takes account of (a) inflation and (b) predicted numbers of people diagnosed with HIV in the future. (295563)

Following the 2007 comprehensive spending review, the AIDS Support Grant, which provides a contribution towards the social care and support of people with HIV, was increased from £16.5 million, to £19.8 million in 2008-09, £21.8 million in 2009-10 and £25.5 million in 2010-11. Decisions on allocations beyond this period have not yet been made.

The AIDS Support Grant is allocated to individual authorities based on their HIV caseloads, updated annually, with a weighting of 30 per cent. towards women and children affected or infected by HIV. This recognises the increasing pressure of HIV among these groups.