§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the terms of reference, composition and consultation mechanisms of the Performance and Innovation Unit's inquiry into health in developing countries, indicating when it will report. [152120]
§ The Prime MinisterThe Performance and Innovation Unit's project has three key aims:
- (i) to develop a more effective approach to reducing the prevalence of HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria in developing countries;
- (ii) to identify which instruments might best deliver solutions at an affordable price to developing and developed countries; and
- (iii) to produce a framework for a more effective partnership between governments and the private sector, including the pharmaceutical industry, and the voluntary sector to combat these diseases in developing countries.
The challenge is to find mechanisms to improve incentives, deploying new and existing solutions for tackling infectious diseases alongside developing countries' health care delivery systems is and policies. This project will consider the attractiveness, efficacy, cost-effectiveness and affordability of the different types of the alternative approaches; sustainability will be an important criterion for assessing interventions.
As with all PIU projects, the project team comprises secondees and other Government Departments, including the Department for International Development, as well as specialists from the academic and private sectors. An advisory group is to be appointed including members from a wide range of backgrounds.
The project team is developing its ideas with a wide range of people and organisations already undertaking work in these areas. The team works closely with the Department for International Development and HM Treasury, and is meeting international stakeholders, including the World Health Organisation, the World Bank, UNAIDS and Governments of developing countries as well as NGOs and the private sector.
The project's major output will be a set of proposals to feed into the UK position at the G8 summit in July 2001. Two consultation papers have been published so far, and are available on the project's website: http:// www/cabinet-office.gov.uk/innovation/2001/health/ mainpage.html.
§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to publish the report prepared on the future of UK renewable energy by the Performance and Innovation Unit. [154196]
§ The Prime MinisterThe Performance and Innovation Unit study on resource productivity and renewable energy will be published in the autumn. The study will outline a long-term strategy for moving to a low-carbon, low-waste, knowledge-intensive economy in which renewable energy technologies are expected to play a major role. The study will set out how the £100 million announced in my environment speech on Tuesday 6 March will be used to support the development of a range of renewable technologies.