Health: HIV

Baroness Pidgeon Excerpts

Thursday 12th November 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Pidgeon (LD)]

My Lords, according to the UKHSA, HIV testing in community settings fell by 33% between 2019 and 2024. Given the potential for community testing to reach people who might otherwise be missed, what are the Government doing to reverse this decline and expand access to testing closer to where people live?

[Baroness Hyde of Bemerton (Lab)]

There are many reasons for that decline, as I am sure the noble Baroness is aware. As we know, the Government are very committed to the devolution agenda and many of these services have long been commissioned through local authorities. It is about encouraging local authorities to focus on the granular detail, given the variation across the country, because they know their populations best and how to commission grass-roots services. Of course, the voluntary and community sector has a key role to play in ensuring that all the people who need to be reached are reached. We will continue with our devolution agenda and the ring-fenced public health fund for local authorities to ensure that every person, in every part of the country, is not left out from the possibility of diagnosis and treatment.