Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to address the potential impact of HIV stigma on women, particularly Black African women and menopausal women.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

On World AIDS Day, 1 December 2025, the Department published the new HIV Action Plan, which was developed in collaboration with UK Health Security Agency and NHS England. The plan is backed by over £170 million in funding and sets out five core priorities needed to reach our ambition to end new HIV transmissions within England by 2030. One of these priorities is to address stigma and improve the quality of life for people living with HIV, including an action to ensure the needs of women living with HIV are considered and addressed in future work, and the role of care for menopausal women living with HIV is included in women’s health hubs best practice.

The Department is also investing £4.8 million from 2026 to 2029 in the newly procured National HIV Prevention England Programme, which will be delivered by a consortium of the Terrence Higgins Trust and the Africa Advocacy Foundation. This programme includes an aim to reduce levels of HIV related stigma, particularly self-stigma and stigma within different communities, including Black African women.

In high and very high prevalence areas, routine HIV testing is normalised within emergency departments, through the Blood Borne Virus (BBV) emergency department opt-out testing programme. This helps to reduce stigma, avoids singling out individuals, and improves early diagnoses, including among people from Black African heritage who are less likely to access traditional sexual health services.

NHS England promotes and funds HIV peer support services in the BBV emergency department opt-out testing programme, recognising the role of lived-experience facilitators in reducing isolation and stigma. Case studies, including for women in their 50s diagnosed via emergency department testing, highlight how peer-led support fosters empowerment and combats stigma-related barriers.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will set out the Government's negotiating priorities will be at the UN High-Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS in June 2026; and whether the Government plans to ensure that the new Global AIDS Strategy 2026-2031 includes measurable commitments to (a) reduce stigma and discrimination, and (b) increase funding for community-led responses in low and middle-income countries.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The High-Level Meeting comes at a critical moment for the global HIV response and offers an opportunity to reaffirm international commitments to end AIDS for good. The UK has endorsed the Global AIDS Strategy 2026-2031 and will work to ensure the political declaration upholds its ambitions, particularly on human rights, and harnesses the opportunity presented by long-acting injectable HIV prevention and treatment.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Government plans to raise access to long-acting injectable HIV prevention and treatment technologies in low and middle-income countries at the UN High-Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS in June 2026.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The High-Level Meeting comes at a critical moment for the global HIV response and offers an opportunity to reaffirm international commitments to end AIDS for good. The UK has endorsed the Global AIDS Strategy 2026-2031 and will work to ensure the political declaration upholds its ambitions, particularly on human rights, and harnesses the opportunity presented by long-acting injectable HIV prevention and treatment.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations the UK plans to make at the UN High-Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS in June 2026.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The High-Level Meeting comes at a critical moment for the global HIV response and offers an opportunity to reaffirm international commitments to end AIDS for good. The UK has endorsed the Global AIDS Strategy 2026-2031 and will work to ensure the political declaration upholds its ambitions, particularly on human rights, and harnesses the opportunity presented by long-acting injectable HIV prevention and treatment.

Found: I will pass the questioning to David Mundell now. Q240 David Mundell: Thank you. Chair.

Found: like to briefly elaborate on a few thoughts, particularly in response to the question raised by David Mundell

Found: Noah Law (Labour; St Austell and Newquay) Brian Mathew (Liberal Democrat; Melksham and Devizes) David Mundell

Found: Noah Law (Labour; St Austell and Newquay) Brian Mathew (Liberal Democrat; Melksham and Devizes) David Mundell

Found: Members present: Sarah Champion (Chair); Janet Daby; Tracy Gilbert; Monica Harding; Brian Mathew; David Mundell

Found: Members present: Sarah Champion (Chair); Janet Daby; Tracy Gilbert; Monica Harding; Brian Mathew; David Mundell

Found: Members present: Sarah Champion (Chair); Janet Daby; Tracy Gilbert; Monica Harding; Brian Mathew; David Mundell

Found: Secretary of State for Wales, Rt Hon Alun Cairns MP; the Secretary of State for Scotland, Rt Hon David Mundell

Found: Secretary of State for Wales, Rt Hon Alun Cairns MP; the Secretary of State for Scotland, Rt Hon David Mundell