Health Minister, Susan Deacon

Ms Deacon's announcement coincides with the publication of a report by the HIV Health Promotion Strategy Review Group.

The report considers the impact of existing HIV and AIDS prevention activities across Scotland and how these could be improved to establish a clear downward trend in numbers of new infections.

Ms Deacon said: "The spread of HIV has been brought under control in Scotland in comparison with most countries around the world.

"But this report recognises that much more needs to be done if we are to see the numbers of new cases reducing year on year.

"The 157 new HIV infections reported in 1999 was the lowest recorded since 1994, but annual figures throughout the 1990s did not show consistent reductions.

Public health issue

"This is why we must continue to be vigilant against the threat of HIV.

"That means we must work together to improve the range of services and advice available to those at risk of this potentially deadly infection."

Ms Deacon added: "A generation has grown up since the first wave of HIV and AIDS awareness campaigns in the 1980's. As a result some of impetus behind the safe sex messages of that era may have been lost."

She said HIV and AIDS are national public health issues which every Scot should be aware of.

Ms Deacon said she expected health boards around Scotland and their partner organisations to look at the recommendations of the report carefully and act on them with the new resources she was making available.