Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to make the UK is a global leader in the development of new HIV vaccines, diagnostics and treatments.

The UK remains a world leader in efforts to end the AIDS epidemic, including through our investment in the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria.

In 2018 alone the Global Fund provided 18.9 million people with antiretroviral therapy. This investment is complemented by a wider portfolio of programmes and research, including our 20-year agreement with Unitaid. Unitaid's work has enabled great advancements in HIV diagnostics and treatment at affordable costs, such as reducing the price of portable advanced HIV tests to less than $4, and developing long-acting injectable antiretroviral treatments for HIV.

We are also the second largest government supporter of product development research to improve the health of the most vulnerable in the poorest countries. This support includes funding to the International Partnership for Microbicides, which is developing women-initiated HIV prevention methods. One of the most advanced products is a one-month Dapivirine vaginal ring, which has recently received World Health Organisation prequalification.