PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Development Aid: Coronavirus (20 May 2021)

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the potential effect of reducing Official Development Assistance research funding on covid-19 research partnerships between the UK and low and middle income countries.

Asked by:
Navendu Mishra (Labour)

We have prioritised our aid to be more strategic, and remain a force for good across the world. The portfolio agreed by the Foreign Secretary will focus our investment and expertise on issues where the UK can make the most difference, and achieve maximum strategic coherence, impact, and value for money. The UK is one of the largest donors to the international COVID-19 response. UK expertise in science, research, and development has led to one of the first effective and affordable COVID-19 vaccines. We have made £1.3billion of new public commitments to counter the health, humanitarian, and socio-economic impacts of COVID-19, and to support the global effort to equitably distribute vaccines.

Scientific and technological innovation runs through every one of the seven priority themes for our ODA spend. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) research partnerships for COVID-19, including the development of vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics will be maintained. We will continue to use our aid budget to support research and development partnerships with developing countries.

Answered by:
Sir James Duddridge (Conservative)
27 May 2021