Scotland's blood transfusion service has rejected calls from gay men's groups to lift the ban on them donating blood.

The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service said in evidence to Holyrood's petitions committee that HIV was rising in gay men and donor selection was the only way to keep blood products safe. It said its attitude was not based on discrimination but on the risks associated with certain types of sexual behaviour.

Campaigners had said that France, Italy and Spain had all lifted a blanket ban on gay men giving blood.

The service said 86 per cent of all new HIV infections occurring last year in Scotland were in gay men. Although all donations were tested, some early-stage infections were not always picked up. It also said the figures showed that some gay men were continuing to give blood despite being asked not to do so.

Gay and lesbian groups argue that men are allowed to donate blood one year after having unprotected sex with a woman known to be HIV-positive.

The Terence Higgins Trust said that it supported the present transfusion policy.

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