Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether her Department has plans to allocate funding for research into acting/extended-release (a) injectable and (b) implantable forms of Antiretroviral drugs to help (a) a patients adherence to treatment and (b) decrease HIV drug resistance.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
Our HIV/AIDS research focuses on HIV prevention technologies and understanding the structural drivers/factors that can increase HIV infection. Underpinning these themes is the need for strong health systems, to deliver services to those who need it.
Our product development research portfolio includes the International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM). IPM is developing the first long-acting HIV prevention (containing an antiretroviral drug) designed for women, a self-initiated female prevention product.
Research into the root causes of HIV and how best to tackle them are being addressed through the Tackling the Structural Drivers of HIV (STRIVE) and the recently completed Evidence for HIV Prevention in Southern Africa (EHPSA) projects.
The results of this research have the potential to increase adherence to treatment and reduce drug resistance. It will help some of the most poor and vulnerable people, and will be of benefit to people in all countries affected by HIV/AIDS including the UK.
DFID is also supporting the scale-up of long-acting technologies through our funding to Unitaid. Unitaid is a global health initiative which aims to improve access to medicines, diagnostics and preventative commodities for people affected by HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria in lower income countries. The Unitaid board has recently approved development of grants to drive innovation and rollout of the rich pipeline of long-acting technologies for HIV and other diseases.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans the Government has to seek the inclusion of an affirmation of the right of all countries to use TRIPS flexibilities to ensure access affordable medicines in the UN tuberculosis high level meeting outcome document.
Answered by Alistair Burt
The Department for International Development is playing a proactive role in shaping the content of the outcome document for the forthcoming UNGA High Level Meeting on Tuberculosis, which is still being negotiated. The UK’s position is that the outcome document must be consistent with agreed international treaties on intellectual property rights, notably TRIPS and the Doha Declaration on Public Health (2001). In line with the declaration, we support developing countries in utilising TRIPS flexibilities in the case of national health emergencies such as pandemics.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether she has met the campaign group Code Blue to discuss concerns about sexual harassment at UNAIDs; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
I have not met with officials from Code Blue but I have been briefed by DFID officials on Code Blue’s concerns about the allegations of sexual harassment at UNAIDS. My officials met with Code Blue on 28 February to discuss this issue and informed them of the measures the UK is taking to raise safeguarding standards with all our partners, including UNAIDS, and that tackling harassment will be a priority during our Chairmanship of the Programme and Coordinating Board.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make an assessment of the merits of a system for reporting sexual harassment which is independent of senior management at UNAIDs; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
I have been firm in my demand that agencies show leadership and take action alongside the UK to improve reporting mechanisms for sexual exploitation and abuse, and have requested information on the measures that they have in place and assurance that these are being effectively implemented. I will assess the evidence that they provide to determine what action needs to be taken.
DFID is leading and convening a group of likeminded donors to develop a strong, consistent approach to sexual harassment, intimidation and sexual exploitation and abuse, across the development and humanitarian sectors. This includes reviewing and shaping UNAIDS proposal for an independent, external panel to develop concrete recommendations to strengthen zero tolerance policies, including sexual harassment and abuse of power.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, when she plans to reply to the letter of the hon Member for Harrow West of 13th February on UNAIDS.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
I issued a reply to the Honourable Member for Harrow West on 15 March 2018.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether she has met the campaign group Code Blue to discuss concerns about sexual harassment at UNAIDs; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
I have not met with officials from Code Blue but I have been briefed by DFID officials on Code Blue’s concerns about the allegations of sexual harassment at UNAIDS. My officials met with Code Blue on 28 February to discuss this issue and informed them of the measures the UK is taking to raise safeguarding standards with all our partners, including UNAIDS, and that tackling harassment will be a priority during our Chairmanship of the Programme and Coordinating Board.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make an assessment of the merits of a system for reporting sexual harassment which is independent of senior management at UNAIDs; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
I have been firm in my demand that agencies show leadership and take action alongside the UK to improve reporting mechanisms for sexual exploitation and abuse, and have requested information on the measures that they have in place and assurance that these are being effectively implemented. I will assess the evidence that they provide to determine what action needs to be taken.
DFID is leading and convening a group of likeminded donors to develop a strong, consistent approach to sexual harassment, intimidation and sexual exploitation and abuse, across the development and humanitarian sectors. This includes reviewing and shaping UNAIDS proposal for an independent, external panel to develop concrete recommendations to strengthen zero tolerance policies, including sexual harassment and abuse of power.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment her Department has made of global progress towards the 2020 targets of reducing malaria cases and deaths by a further 40 per cent by 2020.
Answered by Alistair Burt
Malaria cases have reduced from 271 million in 2000 to 212 million in 2015, and death rates declined from 864,000 in 2000 to 429,000 in 2015. The 2016 WHO World Malaria Report showed that, while there is continued progress on reducing malaria cases and deaths, this needs to accelerate to meet the global milestone set for 2020. DFID is the second largest international funder to the global malaria response, supporting the global targets behind the Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016-2030.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether she plans to publish a position paper on the future of British development assistance after the UK leaves the EU; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Alistair Burt
The UK’s leadership on development is an important part of the Government’s international vision for a secure and prosperous United Kingdom with global reach and influence. The Government will provide information about other position papers in due course.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if the UK will continue to fund the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department after the UK leaves the EU; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Alistair Burt
The arrangements for withdrawal from the EU, including its funds, will be determined as part of the exit negotiations with the European Commission.