Oral Answers to Questions

Caroline Johnson Excerpts

Tuesday 17th March 2020 Commons Chamber

[Andy Carter (Warrington South) (Con)]

1. What diplomatic steps he is taking with his international counterparts to tackle the spread of covid-19.

[Dr Caroline Johnson (Sleaford and North Hykeham) (Con)]

11. What diplomatic steps he is taking with his international counterparts to tackle the spread of covid-19.

[Michael Fabricant (Lichfield) (Con)]

12. What steps he is taking with his international counterparts to ban wet markets and butcheries in (a) China and (b) south-east Asia where viruses have crossed the animal-human interface; and if he will make a statement.

--- Later in debate ---

[Dominic Raab]

We are working with £241 million of aid funding and investing £65 million in research to support vulnerable countries’ capacity to tackle this. The Foreign Office is regularly reviewing our travel advice, and consular staff are working with British nationals right across the world to give them the support and advice that they need. I will be making a further statement after oral questions.

[Dr Caroline Johnson]

What discussions is my right hon. Friend having with his counterparts in countries such as the United States, Australia and Israel, which are working actively on a vaccine for covid-19, so that we can share information from our research and develop a vaccine more quickly together?

[Dominic Raab]

I thank my hon. Friend for that question —I know how expert she is in this field. We are, of course, emphasising the importance of vaccine research and encouraging the scientific community to co-ordinate. In particular, we want to prioritise collaboration on vaccine research, including with financing and co-ordination through the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations fund.