HC Deb 03 November 2003 vol 412 cc491-2W
Mr. Caton

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the Global Fund's public-private partnership structure. [135182]

Hilary Benn

We support the Global Fund's partnership with not only government and the private sector but also civil society and affected communities. We have not carried out any assessment of this aspect of the Global Fund. However, we are now starting a programme of work to look at different aspects of the operation of global health partnerships and the working of public-private partnership structures may form part of that.

Mr. Caton

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the target level set by the UN is for UK input into the Global Fund. [135184]

Hilary Benn

The UN has not set a target level for UK contributions to the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria. The UN did set a target of $10 billion a year to be spent in on HIV/AIDS in low income, high HIV impact countries in the UNGASS Declaration of Commitment on HIV/A1DS, signed in 2001.

Recently, UNAIDS (the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS) have produced a report on "The state of HIV/AIDS financing", which estimates that total resources required to combat AIDS will amount to approx US$ 10.7 billion in 2005 and US$14.9 billion by 2007, rising as implementation capacity (physical and human) improves.

Sub-Saharan Africa expenditure on HIV
1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03
Total contribution (£ million) 32 42 149 149 184
UK GNI (£ million) 849,900 896,734 936,586 993,770 1,063,090
Percentage total contribution of GNI 0.004 0.005 0.016 0.015 0.017
Total contribution (£ million) in real terms using GDP deflators at market prices 2002–03 = 100 36 45 158 153 184

DFID welcomes the fourfold increase of programmed European Community financial support to fighting HIV/AIDS and other major communicable disease to 1.117 billion Euro for the period 2003–06. This is equivalent to 280 million Euro per year.

The UK Government have full confidence in the EC's HIV/AIDS programmes, and in particular recognises the value of and supports the Community's

The UK is making a significant contribution to the fight against AIDS. Our total contribution to the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria will be US$280 million by 2008. Most of DFID's HIV/AIDS spending goes direct to developing countries, through Government, NGOs or the private sector. Last year we invested over £270 million on HIV/AIDS related bilateral work. We are committed to increasing our activities and spending over the next five years. We also provide significant contributions to support the HIV/AIDS programmes of multilateral agencies, including the United Nations.

Mr. Caton

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the estimated donation in 2004 to the Global Fund from the UK Government is; and what plans the Government has to increase its funding in future years. [135185]

Hilary Benn

The UK has a long-term commitment to the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria and recognises that in order to be effective it needs predictable and sustainable financing. The UK recently extended its pledge by a further 2 years to 2008 bringing our total contribution to US$280million.

The pattern of our disbursements has been agreed with the Global Fund Secretariat—for the financial year 2003–04 the UK has provided £25 million, and for the financial year 2004–05 we will provide £30 million.

UK funding will be subject to the GFATM reflecting a clear poverty focus, achieving a better financing system, integrating the Fund's activities more effectively with national programmes and meeting agreed benchmarks to monitor its effectiveness. I am pleased to report that good progress was made at the recent 6th Board meeting in Thailand on many of these issues.