§ Dr. Julian LewisTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for International Development on how to assist the South African Government to combat the spread of AIDS. [134923]
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§ Mr. HainThe HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa is a major development policy priority for the UK Government and there is an on-going dialogue between FCO, DFID and other Government Departments on HIV/AIDS policy both at the international level and within the African region.
At the international level, recent examples include coordination with DFID for the UN Security Council Resolution on HIV/AIDS and ongoing UN discussions on HIV/AIDS. Health, including HIV/AIDS, is an important part of DFID' s second White Paper due out this autumn, the FCO has worked closely with DFID on this.
At a regional and country level FCO works closely with DFID in implementing country strategies, each of which have HIV/AIDS prevention and care as a major priority.
In November 1999, while in South Africa, the Prime Minister announced a package of assistance, worth £22.7 million, to Southern Africa to support the battle against HIV/AIDS. The package includes a development cooperation agreement with the South African Ministry of Health focusing on reproductive health service programmes in selected provinces, as well as HIV/AIDS information awareness and education programmes for young people.
The UK Government's development assistance also aims to build South African capacity to play a constructive role in regional development issues such as HIV/AIDS.