Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the degree and effectiveness of international scientific collaboration on pandemics such as SARS and COVID-19; and what proposals they have for enhancing collaboration in regard to causation and responses, particularly, testing and vaccines.

Whilst we have made no specific assessment, the Government is committed to ensure that the United Kingdom continues to be one of the best places in the world for research and innovation and is at the forefront of health and social care research internationally and specifically, global research on pandemics.

The UK has pledged £388 million in aid funding for research into vaccines, tests and treatments which is part of a larger £744 million existing commitment to help end the pandemic and support the global economy. This also includes £250 million for global Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations to develop vaccines against coronaviruses. The UK will also provide £330 million a year for the next five years to the Global Vaccine Alliance, readying it to distribute a COVID-19 vaccine in developing countries.