Asked by: Baroness Suttie (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the World Health Organization (WHO) about approving the use of vaccines (1) to prevent, and (2) to mitigate, outbreaks of Ebola in endemic countries.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The UK regularly engages with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other international partners, including the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness (CEPI), to support research and use of vaccines to prevent and mitigate the spread of ebolavirus disease. For example, the UK supported research to develop an effective vaccine against the Zaire ebolavirus, which is approved by WHO and national regulatory authorities, and is used to control outbreaks in west and central Africa. The UK is also currently in regular dialogue with WHO, CEPI and other partners as part of our wider support to the Government of Uganda to take trials forward for candidate vaccines against the Sudan ebolavirus.
Asked by: Baroness Suttie (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the public health impact and (2) the role of UK funding in Product Development Partnerships over the last ten years in tackling poverty-associated diseases such as Tuberculosis.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
UK Government funding by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to Product Development Partnerships has contributed to 66 new health technologies, including diagnostics, drugs and vaccines being available for diseases and health threats that are underserved by commercial markets. These products have reached over 2.4 billion people around the world. This includes the game changing GenXpert technology to detect TB in 4 hours compared to several weeks previously. The technology was subsequently progressed to diagnose Ebola and COVID-19. This technology was developed with our core support by the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics and their partners. Since 2005, we are also one of the major donors to the TB Alliance, which has developed new treatments for TB, including the first child-friendly drug regimen and novel treatments for multi-drug resistant TB, such as Pretomanid, which, in combination with 2 other drugs, offers a highly effective, shorter and less toxic treatment option.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is a leading supporter of Product Development Partnerships, which bring together partners from the public, private and philanthropic sectors to develop new products in a way that de-links the cost of development from the final cost of product.
Asked by: Baroness Suttie (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to disburse funding to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, according to the original schedule agreed to by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The impact of COVID-19 on the UK economy has required us to take the difficult but necessary decision to reduce the overall amount we spend on ODA. However, Global Health remains one of the UK's ODA priorities, focusing on overcoming COVID-19 and supporting healthier and more resilient populations in developing countries.
The Foreign Secretary is currently leading a review of ODA spend for 21/22, the outcome of which will be announced in due course.
Asked by: Baroness Suttie (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to expand the British Council's operations in EU member states in the run-up to Brexit.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The British Council plays an important role in maintaining strong and effective partnerships in Europe. British Council operations are primarily a matter for the Council and its Board of Trustees, but we regularly discuss priorities with them and will continue to do so, both for Europe and the rest of the world.
Asked by: Baroness Suttie (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect to make a decision on the future level of funding for the British Council in the developed world.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The British Council plays an important role in projecting British values and promoting international cultural relations around the world. The British Council will continue to receive the annual funding that was agreed in 2015 as part of the Spending Review. In 2018/19 that includes £151 million Official Development Assistance (ODA) funding and £13 million non-ODA funding. Future funding for the British Council will be decided as part of the next Spending Review. Any decisions on funding which are taken outside that process will be updated to Parliament.
Asked by: Baroness Suttie (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to help to improve Sudan's performance against the UN Guiding Principles on business and human rights (the Ruggie Principles) and corruption indicators, in particular by supporting the development of a national action plan on business and human rights that entails the full and free consultation of the country's trades unions and civil society organisations.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Sudan remains a Foreign and Commonwealth Office Human Rights Priority Country and improving human rights is a key priority in our engagement with the Government of Sudan. The Sudanese Government is ultimately responsible for implementing the commitments contained in the UN Guiding Principles (UNGPs) on business and human rights. However, we stand ready to support Sudan in implementing their national action plan. We are also looking at further possible steps to improve Sudanese adherence to the UNGP and to ensure UK companies operating in Sudan fulfil their responsibilities.
Asked by: Baroness Suttie (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that UK companies comply with the UN Guiding Principles on business and human rights (the Ruggie Principles) in dealings with Sudan.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Sudan remains a Foreign and Commonwealth Office Human Rights Priority Country and improving human rights is a key priority in our engagement with the Government of Sudan. The Sudanese Government is ultimately responsible for implementing the commitments contained in the UN Guiding Principles (UNGPs) on business and human rights. However, we stand ready to support Sudan in implementing their national action plan. We are also looking at further possible steps to improve Sudanese adherence to the UNGP and to ensure UK companies operating in Sudan fulfil their responsibilities.
Asked by: Baroness Suttie (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anelay of St Johns on 11 May (HL8207), what representations they have made about the conditions under which political prisoners are held in Azerbaijan, particularly in the light of the reported assault of Ilgar Mammadov by prison guards in October 2015, and the June 2016 judgment by the European Court of Human Rights that the Azerbaijani authorities failed to provide adequate medical care to Leila and Arif Yunus during their imprisonment on political grounds.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The UK raises concerns about the conditions under which political prisoners are held in Azerbaijan at every appropriate opportunity. Our Embassy in Baku has requested to visit a number of prisoners, but the authorities have not yet granted permission. In the Council of Europe, we regularly call for more information on Ilgar Mammadov’s condition.
Asked by: Baroness Suttie (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the fact that the Eastern Europe region remains the only region in the UN system yet to produce a Secretary-General, and the fact that seven of the declared candidates for the position are from Eastern Europe, whether, in accordance with United Nations General Assembly Resolution 60/286 of 9 October 2006 on <i>Revitalisation of the work of the General Assembly</i>, they are fully committed to giving "due regard to regional rotation" in the selection of the UN Secretary-General.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We have actively campaigned to reform the selection process for a UN Secretary-General. We want greater transparency, a structured process and a gender diverse field. These efforts are designed to ensure we get the best person for the job. We do not subscribe to the notion of regional rotation, but are looking for a candidate with integrity, a proven track record, first class communication skills, suitable and relevant experience and unimpeachable character. They should be committed to transparency and accountability, have strong leadership skills, a bold vision for an activist UN at the heart of the rules-based system, and be committed to cost-effective management and reform.
Asked by: Baroness Suttie (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Azerbaijan about the case of Ilga Mammadov.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We have raised the case of Ilgar Mammadov on a number of occasions since his arrest in February 2013. The Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), and the Minister for Europe, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Aylesbury (Mr Lidington), raised it bilaterally with the Government of Azerbaijan during their visits to Baku in December 2013 and November 2014 respectively. The UK issued a press statement in March 2014, expressing concern about the length of the sentence and the conduct of the trial. In the Council of Europe the UK has repeatedly called for the Government of Azerbaijan to fully implement the European Court of Human Rights judgement and release Mr Mammadov.