Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the Brexit referendum result, what assessment they have made of the case for training overseas port health officers to UK standards, especially those in developing countries; and what part the Association of Port Health Authorities will play in delivering such training.

The International Health Regulations (IHRs) (2005), agreed by all WHO member states, include the standards required for port health authorities internationally. WHO has oversight of IHR assessment and capacity building, including through the external evaluation approach introduced in 2016. The UK Government, through the WHO, assists countries to carry out assessments and implement the IHRs. As part of this, the UK deploys (a) subject matter experts to support WHO monitoring of IHR capacity in 20 low and middle-income countries, including in points of entry such as ports, and (b) implements programmes to strengthen IHR capabilities in five countries in Africa and Asia, plus the UK Overseas Territories. We will always consider the most appropriate subject matter experts to support our global health security interventions.