Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of potential effect of the proposed funding cuts to UNAIDS on its (a) engagement and (b) influence at June's UN High Level Meeting on HIV & Aids.

The seismic impact of the pandemic on the UK economy has forced us to make tough but necessary decisions, including temporarily reducing the amount we spend on foreign aid. The UK will remain a major investor in the global health institutions and continue to support stronger health systems worldwide.

The UK's aid budget has been allocated in accordance with our key strategic priorities, after a cross-government review of how we spend ODA. The Foreign Secretary has agreed he will focus our investment and expertise where the UK can make the most difference and achieve maximum impact. We are now working with partners to help them assess and manage the impact of UK funding reductions on individual programmes. In the meantime, let me reassure you that the UK remains a proud partner to UNAIDS and looks forward to a successful High Level Meeting on HIV and AIDS in June that will reinvigorate the global response and galvanise commitment to delivering the new Global AIDS Strategy 2021-2026.