Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the World Health Organisation on progress towards a new convention, agreement, or other international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response; whether the target for agreeing this remains May 2024; and if he will make a statement.

The United Kingdom is working with international partners on an instrument on pandemic preparedness and responses, including at the most recent meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB). This is the Member State-led process for drafting and negotiating the pandemic instrument, held during the week commencing 18 July 2022. Officials from the Department of Health and Social Care and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office participated in discussions with Member States and representatives of the World Health Organization (WHO).

The next meeting of the INB is scheduled for the 5 to 7 December 2022, with the aim of agreeing this instrument in May 2024 at the World Health Assembly. The UK will use inter-sessional time between meetings to engage further with Member States and WHO officials, including at forthcoming WHO regional committees.