To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the implications for her policies of the World Health Organisation’s proposal for a new international agreement on pandemic preparedness and response; and if she will make a statement.
Answered on
26 May 2022
The UK Government supports WHO's proposal to negotiate a new global instrument on pandemic preparedness and response. The Government is actively shaping its design to ensure it improves how the world prevents, prepares for, and responds to future disease outbreaks of pandemic potential. This will protect lives, the economy and future generations from the threat of pandemics. The key will be to ensure the final text is clearly in the UK national interest.
The UK's assessment of the impact of the potential new agreement, including on our wider policy objectives, is ongoing. The Government will update Parliament when appropriate.