Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of her Department's research on development funding for infectious diseases.

DFID has supported some of the best research on infectious diseases. Recent examples include a new diagnostic for sleeping sickness, a new vaccine for rotavirus diarrhoea and a new drug for treating malaria in children. Globally, there is a lack of investment in research and development for infectious diseases. This includes diagnostics, drugs, vaccines, and research to improve the delivery of health services. DFID is the second largest Government funder of product development research.

The new Government made a manifesto commitment to lead a major new programme to develop drugs for the world’s deadliest diseases. DFID is currently working on a strategy to deliver on this commitment.