Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Christian Aid report The Loss and Damage Fund: Where does the money come from?, published in March.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
At COP27, the UK and all parties agreed to establish new funding arrangements for loss and damage, including the setup of a dedicated fund, to assist developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to climate change. It was agreed to establish a Transitional Committee under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to develop the fund and funding arrangements by COP28. The UK subsequently secured one of the twenty-four seats on the Committee. We will consider a range of information, including from civil society, to inform our work with fellow Committee members to develop a fund and wider funding arrangements that deliver for the most vulnerable.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the Financial Intermediary Fund for Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response on tackling (1) new diseases, and (2) existing diseases such as malaria.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The UK is shaping discussions to improve pandemic prevention, preparedness and response globally. In June 2022, the UK announced a £25 million commitment to the Pandemic Fund. The Fund should fill some of the financing gaps for preparedness in health systems and disease surveillance at country, regional and global levels including by catalysing countries' own financing so that they are better prepared to detect and respond whenever and wherever a health risk emerges. Improved health systems preparedness and surveillance should positively impact wider disease control efforts, including new diseases and malaria.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, following the reduction of the UK's pledge to the Global Fund, what other means the UK Government has to continue supporting global health security and fighting malaria, tuberculosis, and AIDS.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
Tackling these diseases remains a priority for the UK Government - as evidenced by our significant £1 billion pledge at a time of challenging global fiscal conditions. The International Development Strategy (IDS) highlights how global health and global health security is a top UK priority; key for economic prosperity and global stability. Combatting these diseases supports the UK's commitment to end the preventable deaths of mothers, new-borns and children, and our priority to strengthen country health systems. We have invested around £400 million in Product Development Partnerships, and our commitments to Unitaid, Child Health Advocacy Initiative (CHAI) and MedAccess support access to innovations aimed at ending the three epidemics.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to make further contributions or top-up pledges to the Global Fund before its Eighth Replenishment in 2025.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The Foreign Secretary and Ministers carefully considered funding options in light of the current and forecasted UK and global economic situation and our other essential ODA commitments. The Global Fund remains one of our top global health investments, and our pledge of £1 billion reflects the high priority we place on the fight against these diseases. There are currently no plans to make a further contribution before the eighth replenishment. The UK remains the third largest donor overall to the Global Fund and has invested over £4.4 billion to date.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the UK's pledge to the Global Fund in terms of tackling (1) malaria, (2) AIDS, and (3) tuberculosis.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The Global Fund remains one of our top global health investments, reflecting the high priority we place on the fight against these diseases. The UK's pledge of £1 billion will help: avert over 28 million infections of the three diseases; provide antiretroviral therapy for 1.8 million people; provide TB treatment for over one million people; and distribute 86 million mosquito nets to protect children and families from malaria.
The responsibility of funding the Global Fund is shared across Governments, the private sector, and private foundations; the UK will continue to encourage everyone to continue the fight against the three diseases - inspiring others with our significant commitment.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have made a forecast of the potential impact of reducing UK funding of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria on the Commonwealth commitment to end malaria by 2030.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The Global Fund remains one of our top global health investments, reflecting the high priority we place on the fight against these diseases. The UK's pledge of £1 billion will help: avert over 28 million infections of the three diseases; provide antiretroviral therapy for 1.8 million people; provide TB treatment for over one million people; and distribute 86 million mosquito nets to protect children and families from malaria.
The responsibility of funding the Global Fund is shared across Governments, the private sector, and private foundations; the UK will continue to encourage everyone to continue the fight against the three diseases - inspiring others with our significant commitment.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to address the UK’s $288 million (USD) reported shortfall in meeting funding requests from the Green Climate Fund.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The UK remains committed to the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and, as one of the largest donors, has provided almost £1.5 billion to date. We have given the green light to make our £264 million payment this financial year, well in advance of the next GCF Board meeting in March. We have paid £185 million of this already.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is the source of increased funding for climate adaptation announced by the Prime Minister at COP27 on 7 November; and whether this funding will be taken from (1) the Overseas Aid Budget, or (2) the funding previously announced at COP26.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The increased funding for climate adaptation announced by the Prime Minister at COP27 is part of the UK's overall £11.6 billon International Climate Finance (ICF) commitment. All UK ICF is Official Development Assistance, in accordance with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) rules and forms part of the UKs overseas aid budget.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to match the target of other G7 countries by increasing the UK's contribution to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria by 30 per cent; and what assessment they have made of the effect on the UK's reputation as a reliable international partner if they do not commit to make that increase in their contribution.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
Global health remains a priority for the UK. We are a founding donor of the Global Fund and its third largest donor historically, investing over £4.4 billion to date. At the seventh replenishment pledging conference, the UK committed to remain a strong supporter of the Global Fund, continuing to provide significant financial and political leadership, and to announce our pledge in the coming weeks.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to issue a formal pledge to assist the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The UK remains a committed supporter to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (the Global Fund) and will formally announce a pledge in support of the Global Fund's seventh replenishment (2023-2025) in the coming weeks.