What a treat it is when MPs are as efficient and helpful as Tim Farron (Lib Dem for Westmorland and Lonsdale). Not only did he meet with two student groups at the lobby day on March 11th, he became more knowledgeable on the issues and has already tabled some of the questions we asked him to. This is fantastic as it means that the Departments and Ministers involved will have to take notice.

Two of the questions he put to the Department for International Development have been answered this week by Gillian Merron. Read on to see the government’s response:

Tim Farron asked the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking on flexibilities in the World Trade Organisation’s Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights Agreement to deliver affordable generic medicines for the treatment of HIV/AIDS?

Gillian Merron’s (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for International Development) response:

‘The UK Government support the right of developing countries to utilise flexibilities in the World Trade Organization’s Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), and in particular to facilitate access to cheaper medicines, including for the treatment of HIV/AIDS. This includes the right to produce, export or import generic medicines under a compulsory licence.

The Department for International Development has also financed a number of organisations including the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) to provide support to developing countries to make better use of their TRIPS flexibilities, including compulsory licensing.’

Tim Farron also asked the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made by his Department towards meeting the G8 commitment to universal access to treatment for HIV and AIDS by 2010; and what funds his Department has allocated to furthering progress in the next two years?

Gillian Merron’s response:
‘By the end of 2006, more than 2 million people in developing countries were taking anti-retroviral treatment—up from 100,000 in 2001. Progress towards universal access will be assessed during 2008 at the high level meeting on AIDS.

The UK remains fully committed to ensuring universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support and is the second largest Government funder of AIDS-related assistance in the world. Last September the UK made an unprecedented long-term commitment to provide up to £1 billion to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFATM) up to 2015.’

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