Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Tackling HIV and AIDS

Tuesday 25 February 2025 · 2 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 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister pledges UK will co-host Global Fund replenishment with South Africa.
  • Minister emphasizes importance of funding for global health beyond direct beneficiaries.
  • Minister did not confirm any reduction in official development assistance.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Paul Davies Lab Colne Valley
NHS Foreign Affairs
Context

The US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is the largest global health program, saving 25 million lives. It has been advised that freezing PEPFAR will result in fewer HIV tests daily and predict a significant rise in AIDS-related deaths without adequate funding.

Question

Can the Minister ensure that the Foreign Office includes HIV in all international discussions, especially at the G7 in Canada this year? The Minister is aware that PEPFAR—the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief—is the largest and most successful global health programme and has saved 25 million lives. It has been advised that freezing PEPFAR will result in 228,000 fewer HIV tests being carried out daily. UNAIDS predicts that 6.3 million AIDS-related deaths will occur if PEPFAR lacks funding for the next five years.

Answer from The Minister for Development (Anneliese Dodds)

Tests and treatment are critical. I am pleased that the Prime Minister recently announced that, together with South Africa, the UK will co-host the eighth replenishment of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The Global Fund is the leading financier of the global fight against HIV/AIDS, and we will work with Canada to draw attention at the G7 to the importance of the Global Fund replenishment.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not address whether the Foreign Office would include HIV in all international discussions specifically as requested by the MP.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q2 Chris Law SNP Dundee Central
Taxation Foreign Affairs
Context

There is concern about the financing details for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. There are also rumours that official development assistance might be reduced from 0.5% to 0.2%, potentially due to an increase in defence spending.

Question

What details can the Minister give us about the financing that will be given to the Global Fund? More importantly, there is a rumour that official development assistance is going to be cut from 0.5% to 0.2%, to cover an increase in defence spending. Can the Minister confirm whether that is the case?

Answer from The Minister for Development (Anneliese Dodds)

The hon. Gentleman is right to raise the importance of funding for global health. Of course, this is not just important for those directly impacted; it is important for us here in our country, because we know that diseases do not respect borders. I set out a few moments ago the fact that the Prime Minister is committed to that Global Fund replenishment, and rightly so.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not provide specific details about financing for the Global Fund or confirm the rumours regarding cuts to official development assistance.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email