Oral Answers to Questions

Sheila Gilmore Excerpts

Wednesday 14th March 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr O'Brien]

The hon. Gentleman makes a valid point. The global health fund is making a significant contribution to the eradication of malaria over time as well as to combating HIV/AIDS and TB. With the cancellation of round 11, there is now a question mark over how we can continue the funding. I can assure him that the UK’s pledge of £1 billion between 2008 and 2015, of which we have contributed £638 million to date, is showing the UK’s leadership. We stand ready to make further funding available when the reforms that we want to see have been put through.

[Sheila Gilmore (Edinburgh East) (Lab)]

7. What recent progress he has made in bringing forward legislative proposals to set official development assistance at 0.7% of gross national product.

[The Secretary of State for International Development (Mr Andrew Mitchell)]

The coalition Government have set out how we will stand by the United Kingdom’s promise to invest 0.7% of national income as aid from 2013. The Bill is ready and we will legislate when parliamentary time allows.

[Sheila Gilmore]

May I therefore take from that answer that the Bill will be in the forthcoming Queen’s Speech?

[Mr Mitchell]

It would be quite wrong of me to anticipate the contents of the Gracious Speech, but as I have explained, the Bill is ready to go and will proceed when parliamentary time permits.