§ Mr. HunterTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the United Kingdom's contribution will be to the Global Fund for combating AIDS, TB and malaria in each year up to 2008 for this year. [136046]
Mr. Gareth ThomasThe UK recognises that in order to be effective the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFATM) needs predictable and sustainable financing. The UK recently extended its pledge by a further two years to 2008 bringing our total contribution to approximately US$280million.
The pattern of our disbursements has been agreed with the Global Fund Secretariat—for the financial year 2002–03, the UK provided £50 million in two separate payments of £25 million, in 2003–04 the UK provided £25 million, in 2004–05 we will provide £30 million, and in 2005–06 we will provide £33 million. In the years 2006–07 and 2007–08 we have pledged US$40 million per year.
UK funding is 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. Good progress was made at the recent 6th Board meeting in Thailand on many of these issues.