Asked by: Lord Strathcarron (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made, having regard to the relative burden of disease, of the level of investment in the World Health Organization's pandemic agenda, relative to efforts to counter endemic diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK provides the vast majority of funding to WHO as unearmarked flexible funding (£340 million in 2020-2024). Funding helps WHO deliver its General Programme of Work, supporting WHO reform and addressing UK global health priorities. This includes building resilient health systems around the world, especially in the poorest countries, and helping prevent and prepare for pandemics. Additionally, over its lifetime, the UK has been the 3rd largest contributor to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. This funding has contributed towards saving 59 million lives, our recent pledge of £1 billion will continue to contribute to this effort.
Asked by: Lord Strathcarron (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what are their specific reasons for planning to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius; and what assessment they have made of China’s intentions for the Chagos Islands given their relationship with Mauritius.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK and Mauritius have reiterated that any agreement between our two countries will ensure the continued effective operation of the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia, which plays a vital role in regional and global security. The UK will only enter into an agreement that protects our national interests and those of our partners, including from any malign actors in the Indian Ocean.
Asked by: Lord Strathcarron (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to table a motion to enable the House of Lords to debate the Political Declaration of the United Nations General Assembly High-level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response, which will be discussed by the UN General Assembly on 20 September.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
A Westminster Hall Debate on the three health-focused High-Level Meetings taking place at the UN General Assembly High-Level Week this year was held on 11th July 2023. This provided a helpful opportunity for Members to discuss the UK's aims for the three High-Level Meetings. UN resolutions, including those such as this political declaration, issued as the outcome of UN General Assembly High-Level Meetings, are non-binding recommendations. In keeping with usual practice relating to such resolutions, the Government does not propose to table a motion relating to the declaration.