Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are taking steps to ensure that Commonwealth countries do more to tackle global health threats, such as malaria.

The UK is a leader in accelerating malaria control through our contribution to the Global Fund, direct support to countries to develop and implement malaria policies, and our extensive research programme for new drugs, diagnostic and insecticides. Since it started work, the Global Fund has spent over £13.6bn in Commonwealth countries.

In addition, DFID supports a number of Commonwealth countries, for instance Ghana, to tackle health threats by strengthening their health systems – one of the most important methods to prevent, detect and respond to emerging and existing health threats.