Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

HIVAIDs

Tuesday 8 November 2022 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Florence Eshalomi welcomed the Minister back and raised concerns about the small decline in new HIV infections globally, highlighting the disproportionate impact on adolescent young women and girls.
  • The Minister praised the Global Fund's effectiveness, noting it has saved over 50 million lives and that two thirds of its funding goes to the Commonwealth.
  • Chris Law welcomed the Minister and commended him for his previous support of the Government's manifesto commitments on international development.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Florence Eshalomi Labour (Co-op) Vauxhall and Camberwell Green
NHS
Context

The number of new infections dropped by only 3.6% between 2020 and 2021, affecting adolescent young women and girls disproportionately.

Question

I welcome the Minister back to his place. Globally, the number of new infections dropped by only 3.6% between 2020 and 2021, which is the smallest decline since 2016. The data shows that it disproportionately impacts adolescent young women and girls. We must do and can do more to help those girls if we are truly to end new HIV transmissions. What plans does the Minister have to ensure that the Global Fund receives a pledge, so it can carry out vital programmes if we are to end new transmissions of HIV by 2030?

Answer from Andrew Mitchell

The hon. Lady is absolutely right about the critical importance of the Global Fund's work. The Global Fund has saved more than 50 million lives. It was very heavily reformed in 2010. Two thirds of the money goes towards the Commonwealth and it is brilliantly effective. She can rest assured that we are looking very carefully at the pledge we are going to make.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific plans on how much funding will be pledged or when the pledge will be made

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Q2 Florence Eshalomi Labour (Co-op) Vauxhall and Camberwell Green
NHS
Context

The number of new infections dropped by only 3.6% between 2020 and 2021, disproportionately affecting adolescent young women and girls.

Question

Globally, the number of new infections dropped by only 3.6% between 2020 and 2021, which is the smallest decline since 2016. The data shows that it disproportionately impacts adolescent young women and girls. We must do and can do more to help those girls if we are truly to end new HIV transmissions. What plans does the Minister have to ensure that the Global Fund receives a pledge, so it can carry out vital programmes if we are to end new transmissions of HIV by 2030?

Answer from Andrew Mitchell

The hon. Lady is absolutely right about the critical importance of the Global Fund's work. The Global Fund has saved more than 50 million lives. It was very heavily reformed in 2010. Two thirds of the money goes towards the Commonwealth and it is brilliantly effective. She can rest assured that we are looking very carefully at the pledge we are going to make.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific plans on how much funding will be pledged or when the pledge will be made

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Q3 Chris Law SNP Dundee Central
Foreign Affairs
Context

The Minister previously spoke passionately about the importance of supporting international development commitments. However, no pledge has been made to the Global Fund.

Question

I welcome the Minister for Development to his place. As a Back Bencher, he spoke passionately and frankly in holding his party to its manifesto commitments on international development, and I applaud that. Indeed, in July he said: “I urge the Government to ensure that we are as generous as possible on the replenishment of the fund”. Yet today, under his ministerial role, not a single penny has been pledged to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. I just heard him say on the record that it will continue to be supported substantially, so he may wish to correct that. Words are deeds, so will the Minister put money where his mouth is and join the other G7 countries by making a late donation to the Global Fund and delivering what his party promised?

Answer from Andrew Mitchell

I can assure the hon. Gentleman that our support throughout the whole House for the Global Fund is absolute and intense. Discussions are ongoing on the subject of money. I hope very much it will not be too long before I can come before the House and answer his very specific questions on both the money and the results that that money will achieve.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific pledge or timeline for funding commitment

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