§ 14. Mr. BorrowTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the work undertaken by her Department to prevent the spread of AIDS and HIV in the developing world. [62756]
§ 18. Angela SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what initiatives her Department has taken to combat the spread of HIV and AIDS in developing countries. [62761]
§ Clare ShortWe are supporting national programmes in 39 developing countries. We are also working in collaboration with UNAIDS and other UN agencies in co-ordinated efforts. And we are funding research into development of new methods of protection against HIV, providing subsidised contraceptives and programmes to encourage safe sex, and supporting the development of an HIV/AIDS vaccine by contributing to the International Aids Vaccine Initiative.
§ 24. Mr. BradshawTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action her Department has taken to help prevent the spread of HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. [62767]
§ Clare ShortWe are working to prevent the spread of AIDS and HIV in sub-Saharan Africa through contributions to the work of UNAIDS, the EC and international non-governmental organisations such as the International Planned Parenthood Federation. We have significant programmes with national governments in Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. We are also funding research into the development of new methods of protection against HIV, providing subsidised contraceptives and programmes to encourage safe sex, and supporting the development of an HIV/AIDS vaccine, by contributing to the International Aids Vaccine Initiative.
§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what percentage of her Department's budget is allocated to HIV and AIDS projects. [64174]
§ Clare ShortIn calendar year 1997, 3.6 per cent. of the UK overseas development assistance (£73 million) was invested in reproductive health, excluding expenditure 589W through the EC and the World Bank, which we are unable to dis-aggregate. Much of our spending on improving basic healthcare systems will also bring benefits to people with HIV and AIDS. We estimate that around 40 per cent. of this sum was invested in work which related directly to HIV/AIDS.
§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has made to the World Bank to increase support for HIV/AIDS vaccine development. [64182]
§ Clare ShortMy officials meet regularly with counterparts in the World Bank to encourage them in their support for HIV/AIDS vaccine development through International Aids Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) and other channels. The latest of these meetings took place in Washington in November.
§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on progress made on establishing an HIV/AIDS vaccine purchase fund. [64183]
§ Clare ShortThe World Bank is considering how best to establish a global HIV/AIDS vaccine purchase fund for the long term benefit of the poorest, most affected countries. Consultations continue with Governments and a range of profit and not-for-profit groups such as the International Aids Vaccine Initiative. Britain is committed to supporting the development of a safe and effective vaccine and to creating the conditions which make it affordable and accessible to affected developing countries.
§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list(a) by project and (b) by country the (i) HIV and AIDS and (ii) education projects her Department supports. [64180]
§ Clare ShortWe provide direct support for HIV/AIDS activities in 39 Countries, intensively in ten of these. A list will be placed in the Library of the House. It does not include HIV/AIDS activities supported through multilateral institutions such as United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), the World Bank and World Health Organisation (WHO), all of whom receive funding from the British Government.
§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has made to the Governments of G8 countries to support the International Aids Vaccine Initiative. [64179]
§ Clare ShortWe regularly encourage G8 counterparts to contribute to HIV/AIDS vaccine development through International Aids Vaccine Initiative (IAVI). We took the latest opportunity available for us in the margins of a meeting last week of the UNAIDS Programme Co-ordinating Board in Delhi.