Wednesday Volume 612 29 June 2016 No. 17 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Wednesday 29 June 2016 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2016 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 281 29 JUNE 2016 282 global fund, something which the global fund has House of Commons specifically asked us to contemplate and which several other countries are doing? Might she also take the Wednesday 29 June 2016 opportunity to make a speech on the continuing worldwide HIV and AIDS crisis? The House met at half-past Eleven o’clock Justine Greening: That is an important question. PRAYERS Following the announcement of the multilateral aid review, which is coming out shortly, we are looking at [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] how we approach the forthcoming replenishment. The key thing is to ensure that we lobby other countries and players to provide support alongside the UK, but, as Oral Answers to Questions the hon. Gentleman says, it is important that we show leadership ourselves. INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT Dr Philippa Whitford (Central Ayrshire) (SNP): Before I ask my question, may I express our solidarity with the The Secretary of State was asked— people who were involved in the bombing in Istanbul last night? Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria The cap is a bizarre self-limitation. If Britain wants 1. Oliver Colvile (Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport) to give £1.2 billion to the global fund, why do we set a (Con): What her policy is on the investment case for the cap that prevents us from doing so? replenishment of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. [905508] Justine Greening: It has been done precisely to incentivise others and to make it clear that the fund will work best The Secretary of State for International Development if it is supported by a broad donor base. While we have (Justine Greening): Before I answer Question 1, may I always been key supporters of the global fund, it is briefly offer my voice to the many tributes that have important that countries such as the UK do not let up been made in this place to Jo Cox? I know that I speak on challenging other players and countries to play their for the entire development community when I say that role. Although we are a strong supporter of development she was an incredibly impressive Member of the House. and can be proud of our work, we want other countries We also had the chance to work together on Syria. to follow our lead, not lag behind. Indeed, the Order Paper does not show it but she should have been asking topical question 5. I believe that the Kate Osamor (Edmonton) (Lab/Co-op): I would first House is a much, much poorer place for not hearing like to congratulate the Secretary of State on coming from her today. out over the weekend. I look forward to future exchanges I also welcome the shadow Front-Bench team and across the Dispatch Box. welcome the shadow Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Edmonton (Kate Osamor), to her role. I wish her The global fund replenishment conference in September well. presents an incredibly important moment for the fund, which provides more than three quarters of all international In response to the question of my hon. Friend the finance to the fight against TB. Without renewed Member for Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport (Oliver commitment, we will not realise the global plan’s targets, Colvile), we welcome working through the global fund. so when exactly will the UK commit to the global fund? This country has helped to keep 8.6 million people alive with HIV therapy. We have distributed 600 million mosquito nets and have treated 15 million cases of TB. Justine Greening: We will make an announcement We are actually the third largest funder. The UK is following the publication of the multilateral aid review. planning to support a successful replenishment of I can assure the hon. Lady that two things are being a strong, value for money global fund later this year. focused on: ensuring that the global fund offer is strong so that countries are persuaded to invest in it and Oliver Colvile: Mr Speaker, as you can see from my having a smart investment ourselves, as we have had in entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests, I the past, to encourage other countries to join us. visited Zambia last year with RESULTS UK and saw for myself the excellent work that global fund investment Kate Osamor: The global fund has a remarkable is doing, particularly on TB-HIV co-infection. Will the record, having saved more than 70 million lives and Minister do everything possible to ensure that the fund’s treated over 13 million people for TB. Notwithstanding replenishment target of $13 billion is met as a minimum? that record, Canada, Italy and Japan have each significantly increased their contributions to the fund by at least Justine Greening: Yes we will. The global fund is a 20%. Will the Secretary of State ensure that the UK novel but powerful model for delivering improvements also increases its contribution? on AIDS, TB and malaria at scale. We therefore want to see it do better. It still needs to focus on delivering value for money, but we will be lobbying other Governments, Justine Greening: As I have said before, we will finally countries and organisations to continue supporting it. announce what we are doing on the replenishment after our multilateral aid review. I can assure the hon. Lady Mr Gareth Thomas (Harrow West) (Lab/Co-op): May that we are very keen to see a successful replenishment I press the Secretary of State on whether she accepts the of the global fund. Our country has supported that for case for a 20% increase in the UK’s contribution to the a number of years now. Looking at the progress on 283 Oral Answers29 JUNE 2016 Oral Answers 284 malaria, TB and AIDS, it is clear that we need to keep a President in denial who refuses to accept the validity our foot on the pedal if we are to eradicate these of the Arusha peace process. What can the UK Government diseases, because, in the end, they are holding back their do to encourage other neighbouring African countries countries from developing. to take this matter even more seriously than they appear to be doing at the moment? Burundian Refugee Safety Mr Hurd: I share my hon. Friend’s concern and 2. Stephen Phillips (Sleaford and North Hykeham) passion about this situation. I assure him that my hon. (Con): What assessment she has made of the safety of Friend the Under-Secretary and I work together extremely people from Burundi in refugee camps in neighbouring closely to put whatever pressure we can on countries countries. [905509] that may have influence, and to ensure that we are in a position to do the right thing in providing support for The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Burundian people. International Development (Mr Nick Hurd): May I associate myself with the remarks of the shadow Secretary of Imran Hussain (Bradford East) (Lab): May I too State about the Secretary of State, and with the remarks associate myself with the remarks about showing solidarity about standing in solidarity with Istanbul? with Turkey? More than a quarter of a million Burundians have In 2012, the UK Government closed DFID’s office fled their country since 2015. We remain very concerned in Burundi despite the history of electoral turmoil about their wellbeing, which is why we are the second in the country and an understanding that the next largest bilateral donor to the regional refugee appeal. election would be just three years away, in 2015. The election was identified as a key possible flashpoint for Stephen Phillips: My hon. Friend will be aware of future violence by many NGOs and the International reports over recent months of Burundian refugees being Development Committee, which criticised DFID’s decision followed over the border into camps and attacked by to close the office. As the refugee crisis in Burundi those from whom they have tried to flee, often to punish escalates, will the Minister assure me that DFID has in remaining family members or silence those with stories place clear and effective measures to ensure that it of abuse. What are the Government doing to offer identifies where crises may occur and is fully able to support to authorities and non-governmental organisations react and respond to them? running refugee camps in Rwanda, Tanzania and other Mr Hurd: Yes, I think I can give the hon. Gentleman neighbouring countries to ensure that those fleeing that assurance. This has been an issue that has been Burundi are safe? glowing red on our radar screen for some time now. As I have said, we are the second largest bilateral donor to Mr Hurd: I thank my hon. and learned Friend for the regional appeal. We have contingency plans in place. that question. We are aware of the reports. Indeed, I We have announced an additional £15 million to support have spoken personally to a number of Burundian Tanzania in its preparedness for an escalation and we refugees in camps, and we have made it very clear to the have released money and technical expertise to be deployed United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees that in Burundi to support any escalation in the humanitarian we expect it to protect all refugees, and in Rwanda we crisis.