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21 May 2003 : Column 807W—continued
Access to Medicines
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Minister of State for International Development what steps have been taken to implement the paper on access to medicine produced by the Government, the United Kingdom pharmaceutical industry and multilateral agencies; and if she will place a copy in the Library. [113614]
Hilary Benn: The World Health Organisation (WHO) recognises four key factors that can improve access to medicines for diseases prevalent in poor countries (including AIDS, TB and Malaria): affordable pricing, sustainable financing, reliable health and supply systems, and the rational selection and use of existing drugs.
The UK Working Group on Increasing Access to Essential Medicines in the Developing World, chaired by the former Secretary of State, reported to the Prime Minister in November 2002. A copy of the report is available in the Library. The Working Group consisted of senior representatives from UK Government, pharmaceutical industry, the UN, EC and other international organisations.
The UK Working Group was asked to specifically consider:
- ways of improving access to medicines through measures such as facilitating differential pricing arrangements and encouraging appropriate donations; and
what policies could be pursued by the UK Government that would increase research and development into diseases of poor people.
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The UK Government are firmly committed to increasing access to medicines and to strengthening health systems in developing countries. DFID has committed over £1.5 billion since 1997 to support health systems, which will help build capacity to deliver medicines to the poor and to make effective choices about the selection of drugs.
On sustainable financing, we have pledged $200 million to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFATM). This will help pay for increased coverage of proven interventions for the three diseases and some associated health systems strengthening. We have already disbursed $80 million to the Fund.
The UK is also working through the World Trade Organisation to ensure that a satisfactory conclusion is reached on the Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) and Public Health agreement that will assist developing countries with insufficient or no drug manufacturing capacity to make effective use of compulsory licensing.
Tax measures were introduced in the 2002 Budget aimed at encouraging private sector companies to increase investment into the research and development of new treatments for HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria in developing countries, and encouraging responsible donations of medical supplies and equipment to developing countries. Departments across Whitehall will be working together to monitor the impact of these tax initiatives and to explore the potential of other mechanisms to increase investment.
Departmental Advertising
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Minister of State for International Development what the total expenditure on advertising by the Department was in (a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03; and what the level of planned expenditure is for (i) 2003–04 and (ii) 2004–05. [114427]
Hilary Benn: In the financial years 2001–02 and 2002–03 respectively, DFID spent £21,880 and £98,334 on advertising to raise development awareness. Planned expenditure for 2003–04 is £70,000. As yet, no budget has been set for 2004–05.
The total spending on advertising relating to recruitment and contract procurement for 2001–02 was £1,070,357 and for 2002–03 was £1,143,796. On current trends, expenditure on recruitment and contract advertising in 2003–04 and 2004–05 is not anticipated to rise significantly in real terms.
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Figures are shown net of VAT, and those for 2002–03 are subject to final auditing to take account of any end of year adjustments.
Child Prostitution
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate she has made of the number of children being smuggled into Britain for prostitution in the last year for which figures are available. [106927]
Beverley Hughes: I have been asked to reply.
The nature of trafficking means that it is a hidden crime and there are no reliable figures about children being trafficked into or out of the UK. There have been a few high profile instances of children being trafficked into or through the UK, but there is insufficient information to say if this is a growing problem. However, the very nature of the crime demands that it is treated very seriously, which is why the Government have introduced criminal sanctions covering child traffickers and has tasked the Reflex group with co-ordinating intelligence on the problem.
The UK is committed to tackling the trafficking of children for sexual exploitation. Our strategy on trafficking is set out in the White Paper "Secure Border Safe Haven" and focuses on strengthening the law through new offences covering trafficking; providing appropriate support to victims of trafficking in the UK; tackling the criminals through intelligence and enforcement operations through the Reflex taskforce; EU co-operation and provention is source and transit countries in partnership with Foreign and Commonwealth (FCO) Department for International Development (DFID). Joint work is also underway between key agencies at principal entry points to identify children at risk, and the Home Office is working closely with the Department of Health on good practice in delivering the best service to children who have been trafficked.
Departmental Staff
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of regional variations in staff turnover in her Department. [112756]
Hilary Benn: DFID has two headquarters offices in the United Kingdom: one based in Victoria, London and the other in East Kilbride, Glasgow.
Details of the starters and leavers in both locations, for the calendar years 2001 and 2002, are as follows:
| Year | London Starters | London Leavers | Total London Staffing (end of year) | East Kilbride starters | East Kilbride Leavers | Total East Kilbride Staffing (end of year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 149 | 96 | 844 | 44 | 20 | 530 |
| 2002 | 115 | 64 | 895 | 25 | 17 | 538 |
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Foreign Aid
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Minister of State for International Development what increased contributions have been made to the Integral Framework for Trade-Related Technical Assistance; whether the framework has been extended to all developing countries; what additional capacity-building support to developing countries for trade has been introduced since June 2002; and if he will make a statement. [113623]
Hilary Benn: The UK has contributed £1.5 million to the Integrated Framework Programme (IF) so far. The programme has been extended from the initial five least developed countries to include three pilot countries under the revised programme and a second wave of 11 least developed countries. There are sufficient funds available to complete the IF process in these countries. Further expansion will be considered following the evaluation of the programme this summer. The UK has committed £51 million to trade related capacity building since June 2000.
The Integrated Framework aims to support least developed countries mainstream trade priorities into their development programmes, usually framed in the country's poverty reduction strategy. The process includes a Diagnostic Trade Integration Study (DTIS) which recommends policy measures and a matrix of technical assistance and capacity building support needs. The process is country led and the DTIS team comprises both international and local experts. The priorities will be funded through the existing mechanisms for support from bilateral and multilateral partners. In response to the call from participating countries and the World bank, a further trust fund is envisaged to support modest, priority, quick win projects to bridge the period between the DTIS and access to development assistance through the established consultative groups, roundtables and programme support. Its terms of reference were agreed on 16 May 2003. The UK plans to contribute shortly.
Global Health Fund
Mr. Pike: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the UK Government are (a) encouraging their G8 partners and (b) pledging themselves fully to fund the Global Health Fund at the forthcoming G8 summit; and if he will make a statement. [111568]
Hilary Benn: I have been asked to reply.
The UK fully supports the Global Fund for HIV, TB and Malaria. We have been actively engaged from the outset, which is why we made a five year pledge of $200 million from the beginning. $80 million of this has already been disbursed to the Fund. We believe that the Fund adds value through its ability to deliver donor coherence and to purchase drugs and commodities in bulk and establish reliability of supply.
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We welcome the French proposal to hold a conference in Paris (Post Evian G8) with the objective to put the fund on a firm footing and a sound financing framework.
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Minister of State for International Development what contributions have been made by each G8 country to the global health fund; and what proportion of the global health fund's requirement is currently funded. [113616]
Hilary Benn: The UK fully supports the Global Fund for HIV, TB and Malaria. We have been actively and positively engaged from the outset, which is why we made a five year pledge of $200 million from the beginning. $80 million of this has already been disbursed to the Fund. We believe that the Fund adds value through its ability to deliver donor coherence and to purchase drugs and commodities in bulk and establish reliability of supply.
We welcome the French proposal to hold a conference in Paris (Post Evian G8) with the objective to put the fund on a firm footing and a sound financing framework.
The following table highlights the pledges made by each of the G8 members:
| Total pledges to date | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Donors | Pledge in original currency | Pledge value in USD | Period of pledge |
| GFATM Trust account(7) | |||
| United States | — | 1,650,000,000 | 2001–08 |
| Germany | EUR 200,000,000 | 218,361,830 | 2002 |
| United Kingdom | GBP 138,000,000 | 218,342,667 | 2001–05 |
| Italy | — | 200,000,000 | 2002–03 |
| Japan | — | 200,000,000 | 2002–04 |
| France | EUR 150,000,000 | 164,534,226 | 2002–04 |
| Canada | — | 100,000,000 | 2002–05 |
| Russia | — | 20,000,000 | 2002–06 |
| Total via World Bank | — | 2,771,238,723 | — |
(7) At World Bank
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