Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Ebola Outbreaks

Tuesday 16 June 2026 · 5 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • UK has allocated 26.9 million of UK aid funding to support Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
  • The UK maintains leadership in global health security through investment and research and development in WHO and other global health organisations.
  • UK supports Africa-led responses to Ebola by backing government-owned surveillance systems through World Bank and global health organisations.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Adam Thompson Lab Erewash
NHS Foreign Affairs
Context

The UK has committed £26.9 million to support the current Ebola outbreak response within the Democratic Republic of Congo, but concerns remain about disease surveillance and rapid response.

Question

What steps her Department is taking with international partners to support the response to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo?

Answer from Chris Elmore

The UK has allocated £26.9 million of UK aid funding to support disease surveillance and rapid response, improve infection prevention and control, and work alongside WHO and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention to scale up the response and adapt existing programmes.

Answered
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Q2 Beccy Cooper Lab Worthing West
NHS Foreign Affairs
Context

The current Ebola outbreak in DRC spans 29 health zones across three eastern provinces, raising concerns about global health funding pressures that could undermine early warning systems protecting people at home.

Question

With global health funding under significant pressure, does the Minister share my concern that we risk undermining the early warning systems that ultimately protect people here at home? Can he set out what steps the UK is taking to maintain its leadership role in global security?

Answer from Chris Elmore

The UK is not stepping back; it sits on boards of WHO, Global Fund, Gavi, and Pandemic Fund, helping maintain critical global health security infrastructure through investment and world-class research and development.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific concerns about early warning systems were not directly addressed.

How: Not Stepping Back, World-Class Research

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Q3 Adam Thompson Lab Erewash
NHS Foreign Affairs
Context

The covid-19 pandemic demonstrated the importance of early action to contain outbreaks at source, raising questions about strengthening pandemic preparedness through improved surveillance and rapid response capacity.

Question

Given that lesson, can the Minister outline how the UK is working with international partners to strengthen pandemic preparedness through this response, including by improving surveillance, early warning systems and rapid response capacity in countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, so that outbreaks such as Ebola are contained before they pose a wider global health risk?

Answer from Chris Elmore

The UK supports Africa-led responses, backing Government-owned surveillance systems through World Bank and global health organisations, providing UK expertise through mechanisms such as the UK Health Security Agency's public health team.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Improvement of early warning systems was not specifically addressed.

How: Africa-Led Responses, Government-Owned Surveillance

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Q4 Andrew Mitchell Con Sutton Coldfield
NHS Foreign Affairs
Context

Labour's cuts to development and aid have been criticized for undermining the response to the Ebola crisis, with funding at only 5% of what was provided a decade ago during another Ebola emergency.

Question

Will the Government make it clear that pandemics cross borders and are a serious danger to all unless contained? Is that not the essence of the case for international development?

Answer from Chris Elmore

The UK is leading the global response on Ebola, one of the first countries to respond with funding, and the Foreign Secretary leads in securing international funding for tackling the outbreak. The right hon Gentleman raises valid concerns over health security.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific commitment was made regarding future actions or funding levels.

How: Leading Globally, Health Security Concerns

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Q5 Brian Mathew Lib Dem Melksham and Devizes
NHS
Context

A meeting with University of Stellenbosch experts highlighted the importance of local responses in combating the DRC Ebola outbreak, particularly in Africa, citing £100,000 funding committed locally.

Question

Can the Minister confirm that all is being done to further support these local responses and initiatives?

Answer from Chris Elmore

The UK listens to African countries about how to respond, investing £160 million with Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations to develop vaccines. The hon Member is welcome to write further regarding local support needs.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Local response specifics were not fully addressed.

How: Listening To African Countries, Investment In Vaccines

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