Wednesday, 15 May - With an estimated 100,000-150,000 AIDS cases in the Community forecast for 1992, Parliament approved an EC action programme to combat the disease, albeit with amendment. The programme will concentrate on heightening public awareness of the dangers of the disease through informat-ion campaigns and exchanges of practices by the member states. It is designed to provide help for AIDS sufferers.

One of Parliament's amendments drew attention to the need to provide inform-ation and assistance in prisons.

One vote against the programme came from Martine Lehideux (F) from the European Right who felt it was not advocating measures which were strong enough. She advocated proper screening and checks on migrants at frontiers.

The question of condoms also proved controversial for while a majority voted for the campaign to promote the use of condoms two speakers Leen van der Waal (N, Ind) and Karel Dillen (B, ER) felt that too much emphasis was being placed on this course of action and that there was a need to encourage individual responsibility.

The resolution approving the programme was adopted by 259 votes to 14 with five abstentions.