Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to tackle the stigma around HIV and AIDS.

In 2013 the Department published the Framework for Sexual Health Improvement in England which highlights the need for organisations and individuals to continue to tackle the stigma and prejudice often associated with HIV and sexual health.

The Department also funds the Terrence Higgins Trust for the HIV Prevention England (HPE) programme. HPE helps to tackle stigma by social marketing programmes and working closely with HIV voluntary organisations to provide health promotion information including, on HIV testing. Public Health England is supporting the development of the People Living with HIV Stigma Index, which will be rolled-out in the United Kingdom in 2015.