Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions his Department has had with AstraZeneca and Oxford University on their commitment to the WHO Covid-19 Technology Access Pool.

Since the World Health Organisation (WHO) provided initial details on the COVID-19 technology access pool (C-TAP) in October 2020, the UK has led the way in bringing industry and the research community to the table. During our G7 presidency, we will continue this work with stakeholders, including the WHO as it establishes the governance structures, and refines the operating model for C-TAP. This includes pharmaceutical sector representatives, and research institutions such as Oxford University.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is working closely with key development partners in vaccines, such as the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi the Vaccines Alliance, WHO, and the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), along with development finance institutions, and the private sector to catalyse investments into vaccine manufacturing in Africa.