Asked by: David Mundell (Conservative - Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his policy to provide financial support equivalent to previous covid-19 test and trace support payment scheme to people required to self-isolate due to Monkeypox diagnoses.
Answered by Maggie Throup
The Government and local authorities are continuing to support those who are asked to self-isolate in England as the result of a monkeypox diagnosis.
On 9 June 2022, the UK Health Security Agency published guidance for those self-isolating, including on how to reduce the spread of monkeypox within their household. Individuals who are unable to work because they have monkeypox may also be eligible for financial support in England. We will continue to keep this approach under review.
Asked by: David Mundell (Conservative - Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress his Department has made on (a) its strategy for Monkeypox vaccination and (b) ensuring that people in high risk groups can access a Monkeypox vaccination quickly.
Answered by Maggie Throup
On 21 June 2022, the UK Health Security Agency published a targeted vaccine strategy which recommends that gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men at higher risk of exposure to monkeypox should be offered a smallpox vaccine, Imvanex, to control the outbreak. NHS England will offer the vaccine to those most likely to be exposed to monkeypox, including healthcare workers and close contacts of confirmed infections. The local National Health Service will contact members of the public risk of exposure to offer a vaccination in due course.
Asked by: David Mundell (Conservative - Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential effect of monkeypox on the availability of health service appointments for prescribing the HIV prevention drug PrEP.
Answered by Maggie Throup
While no specific assessment has been made, we will monitor the impact of monkeypox on these services.
Asked by: David Mundell (Conservative - Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Trade on 30 June 2022, Official Report, column 555, what initiatives her Department is developing to provide financial support for ensuring that LGBT+ non-governmental organisations are able to challenge discrimination in countries where same sex relationships are illegal.
Answered by Vicky Ford
The UK is committed to championing LGBT+ rights internationally and supporting those who defend them. Ministers and our overseas missions work closely with partners to advance LGBT+ equality, and promote the implementation of new laws and policies that better protect LGBT+ people from violence and discrimination.
Since 2018, the UK has committed over £11 million in programmes to support the promotion and protection of LGBT+ rights. On 24 June, the Prime Minister announced a further £2.7 million of UK funding to support LGBT+ grassroots human rights defenders, and advance equality and freedom across the Commonwealth.
Asked by: David Mundell (Conservative - Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle the criminalisation of same-sex relationships in Commonwealth countries; whether her Department has made funding available to LGBT+ organisations which work to tackle that legislation in those countries in the last year; and if she will take steps to make the UK a leading funder of those organisations.
Answered by Vicky Ford
As Commonwealth Chair-in-Office, the UK committed over £11 million in programmes to support the promotion and protection of LGBT+ rights across the Commonwealth, including through partners such as The Commonwealth Equality Network, Human Dignity Trust and Kaleidoscope Trust.
Since CHOGM 2018, UK funding has facilitated the provision of technical assistance and capacity building to eight Commonwealth countries seeking to repeal or reform legislation that discriminates on the grounds of sex, sexual orientation or gender identity. This is extremely sensitive work, often conducted discreetly due to political, social and cultural sensitivities.
On 24 June, the Prime Minister announced £2.7 million of new UK funding to support the vital work of LGBT+ grassroots human rights defenders. We will continue to work closely with like-minded countries and civil society organisations to defend the human rights of LGBT+ people, and advance equality and freedom across the Commonwealth.
Asked by: David Mundell (Conservative - Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the (a) impact of the work of the Global Fund To Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in Ukraine and (b) Global Fund's ability to have a positive impact in complex operating environments.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
The Global Fund responded quickly to ensure continuity of HIV and TB services for affected populations following Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine. This included reprogramming existing grants and rapidly allocating US $15 million in additional emergency funding. The Global Fund has demonstrated flexibility and responsiveness in a range of challenging operating environments, including Afghanistan as well as Ukraine, and engages efficiently with humanitarian partners and coordination mechanisms to deliver HIV, TB and malaria prevention and treatment services in complex emergencies and in refugee settings.
Asked by: David Mundell (Conservative - Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of (a) the potential merits of the investment case for the Global Fund's seventh replenishment and (b) how additional financing through that fund will advance the Government's commitment to supporting women and girls.
Answered by Vicky Ford
The UK is a strong supporter of the Global Fund, investing in £4.1 billion to date. We are currently reviewing the Global Fund's investment case for the 7th replenishment in line with our new International Development Strategy and recent global health position papers on Health Systems Strengthening and Ending Preventable Deaths. The Global Fund is a key player in the fight against the three diseases and a major contributor to the health and wellbeing of girls and women globally. In particular, the investment case places a strong focus on adolescent girls and young women who continue to be disproportionately affected by HIV, including addressing the structural barriers such as stigma and violence against women that underpin the epidemic. We will continue to make financial and leadership contributions to the Global Fund which will continue our commitment to supporting women and girls.
Asked by: David Mundell (Conservative - Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if the Government will prioritise increasing the UK’s pledge contribution for the Global Fund’s upcoming 7th Replenishment in response to the (a) 65 per cent reduction in AIDS-related deaths (b) and 54 per cent reduction in new HIV infections since the Global Fund was founded.
Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The UK has contributed over £4.1 billion to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. We are proud of the Global Fund's achievements in helping to reduce AIDS-related deaths by 68% and HIV infections by 54%. Our priority is to ensure that UK aid continues to protect millions of people around the world. We are currently reviewing the Global Fund's 7th replenishment investment case and will continue to work with all G7 and G20 members to support progress in the fight against HIV, TB and Malaria.
Asked by: David Mundell (Conservative - Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what strategic priority her Department allocates to the Global Fund in response to its provision of 25 per cent of all international financing for the global HIV and AIDS response.
Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The UK has contributed over £4.1 billion to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. We are proud of the Global Fund's achievements in helping to reduce AIDS-related deaths by 68% and HIV infections by 54%. Our priority is to ensure that UK aid continues to protect millions of people around the world. We are currently reviewing the Global Fund's 7th replenishment investment case and will continue to work with all G7 and G20 members to support progress in the fight against HIV, TB and Malaria.
Asked by: David Mundell (Conservative - Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether it is her policy that (a) securing effective support for the 7th Replenishment for the Global Fund should be a high priority for the G7 and G20 this year and (b) this prioritization should be reflected in the UK’s pledge contribution to the Global Fund’s upcoming 7th Replenishment.
Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The UK has contributed over £4.1 billion to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. We are proud of the Global Fund's achievements in helping to reduce AIDS-related deaths by 68% and HIV infections by 54%. Our priority is to ensure that UK aid continues to protect millions of people around the world. We are currently reviewing the Global Fund's 7th replenishment investment case and will continue to work with all G7 and G20 members to support progress in the fight against HIV, TB and Malaria.