Lord Fowler
To ask His Majesty’s Government, in the light of World Aids Day 2025, when they estimate that the goal of eliminating AIDS as a public health threat will be reached.
The Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Baroness Chapman of Darlington) (Lab)
My Lords, the global response to HIV and AIDS has seen outstanding achievements, with infections up to 40% lower globally than in 2010. But, despite this, our work is not done. The UK Government remain firmly committed to eliminating AIDS as a public health threat, and we are proud to continue our support to the organisations at the forefront of the HIV response, including the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, whose eighth replenishment we co-hosted, alongside South Africa and UNAIDS.
Lord Fowler (CB)
My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply. Today on World AIDS Day, we acknowledge the radical reduction that there has been in deaths from AIDS over past years, with deaths reducing worldwide from 1.4 million a year in 2010 to the present total of around 630,000. I hope that we will also acknowledge the terrible irony that, in spite of this success and in spite of the breakthrough with new drugs, nations, led regrettably by the United States but including others such as Britain, are cutting their overseas budgets. Surely, we will not be forgiven if we reject the exceptional opportunity we have now to eradicate AIDS as a public health threat as quickly as humanly possible.
Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)
We would not be forgiven, but that is not what we are doing. We are now the third-biggest contributor to the Global Fund, which is the world’s leading mechanism for fighting AIDS, TB and malaria, and we have continued to fund UNAIDS. We work through Unitaid and with the Robert Carr Fund. The UK is doing everything that it can, internationally and domestically, to fight HIV and AIDS. We must not forget the work that we are doing to fight against the rollback of LGBT rights, the absence of which does so much harm to prevention and promotes the stigmatisation that leads to people being unable to access their treatment. I respect the incredible work that the noble Lord has done over very many years and I look forward to continuing to be held to account by him on this vital issue.
Lord Cashman (Non-Afl)
My Lords, I refer to my registered interests, particularly as a patron of the Terrence Higgins Trust. Today, on World AIDS Day, we remember those, some of them friends, whom we lost to HIV-related illnesses, and how very different the world might have been had they survived those dark times. So today I ask: domestically, what provisions will the Government undertake to ensure that people living with HIV who subsequently go into residential social care do not face stigma and discrimination because of their HIV status or associated status?
Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)
That would be a fascinating question to put to my colleague the Health Minister, but the issue the noble Lord raises is really important, because it speaks to the point about stigmatisation and awareness, and about the amazing fact—which, 20 or 30 years ago, would not have been the case—that so many people now live incredibly long, fulfilling and healthy lives. I have many friends with HIV and I am sure that, one day—they might not want to talk about this—they will be looking at the prospect of being in some kind of care facility. It is vital that that stage of their life can be lived with dignity and in as fulfilling a way as possible. There is no reason whatever that their HIV status should be an impediment to that, and the Government will work to do whatever they need to do to make sure that that is the case.
Baroness Barker (LD)
My Lords, the decision of the United States Government to end, almost without notice, funding to many multilateral programmes for HIV and AIDS has destroyed medical and scientific research networks across the world, particularly in Africa, and they cannot be rebuilt. Our Government have agreed to continue to fund the Global Fund, for which we are most grateful, but it is important that we continue to fund Unitaid and Robert Carr, so that emerging technologies for prevention and treatment can be scaled up quickly. Will the Government commit to maintaining that intervention?
Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)
We absolutely can commit to continuing to fund those organisations. I cannot give numbers at the moment—we are working through the specific allocations at the moment—but the noble Baroness makes a really strong case, which I hear. The fact that we are backing the Global Fund to the extent that we are shows the Government’s intentions on this issue.
Lord Forsyth of Drumlean (Con)
My Lords, as a junior Minister back in the 1980s, responsible for health in Scotland, I was acutely aware of the wonderful work of the noble Lord, Lord Fowler, in leading the campaign. In those days, it was an absolute death sentence. One reason we need to think very carefully about the support provided now is that it is about not just drugs but education and tackling prejudice, particularly in those countries that are most vulnerable and most affected. So I join with him in urging the noble Baroness to continue that work in supporting those who are spreading education against prejudice and encouraging people to be made aware of the treatments that are possible for this dreadful disease, which still kills so many people in our world.
Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)
That was a point very well made and I thank the noble Lord for making it. I am told by my good friends at Terrence Higgins that the rollback of rights and the absence of education is as big a problem to them as many other issues that we face. Our network around the world works hard on this as well. On rights, I have never seen such pride in an ambassador’s face as when they tell me that they have conducted a same-sex wedding in their ambassador’s house in the capital city of a country where this is not permitted more generally. They are very proud of that. Things such as that speak to the UK’s unwavering support for this agenda, which I do not think will ever diminish.
The Lord Bishop of Manchester
My Lords, one of the most tragic consequences of AIDS remains children who lose both their parents at a very young age and often end up in an orphanage. We were talking in the House just last week about some of the challenges of orphanages. What is the Government’s plan to support children who have been left orphaned as a result of AIDS?
Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)
It is a tragedy, as the right reverend Prelate said. The former Foreign Secretary David Lammy felt incredibly strongly about this and had an initiative to support the care of orphaned children in family settings. He was working with many Governments around the world to do this. This is something, from the last conversation I had with him about it, he intends to maintain and continue to champion as Deputy Prime Minister.
Lord Black of Brentwood (Con)
My Lords, on World AIDS Day, would the noble Baroness join me in paying tribute to all those worldwide who care for people with HIV, who often have very complex health needs? Doctors, nurses and health professionals who work in very special places, such as the Ian Charleson Day Centre at the Royal Free Hospital, used to minister to the dying but now care for the living. Are we not in their debt?
Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)
We really are, and what the noble Lord said is absolutely right. We should pay tribute to those who care and those who innovate, including the scientists who are finding new treatments that are making such a difference. It really is a joy to know not just that so many of our friends and those we love will live long, happy lives, but also that they are happy to share this and talk about it openly. This is something, again, that I do not think we would have seen in the past. It is such a wonderful improvement.
The Earl of Courtown (Con)
My Lords, I congratulate—as I am sure the whole House does—the noble Lord, Lord Fowler, on the work he has done over many years on this subject. Domestically, I understand that 5% of people living with HIV do not know their status. What does this mean as a whole throughout the whole world? How many people do not know? With medication available, and not at a great expense, can the Minister say what we are doing, internationally and nationally, to try to make people more aware of their status, so they can get this very useful treatment?
Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)
That is such an important point. Noble Lords will have heard the announcement from my right honourable friend Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, this morning about opt-out testing, which addresses exactly the issue the noble Earl referred to. Internationally, this is a real problem. A lot of this goes hand in hand with the issue we have already discussed around stigmatisation. We will work with partner Governments and all agencies that we can to try to address this because, as the noble Earl said, not knowing can be deadly for yourself and others.