Select committee: Foreign Affairs Committee
Conclusion 1
First Report: Viral Immunity—The FCO’s role in building a coalition against COVID-19
Published 6 Apr 2020
Paragraph 9
Addressed to Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Foreign Affairs Committee Coronavirus: FCDO response All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
Pandemics do not respect borders. They require a response based on science, evidence and international co-operation. We welcome the Foreign Secretary’s assurances that the Government is working closely with partner countries to combat COVID-19, both bilaterally and through multilateral forums including the EU, G7 and G20. We also welcome the UK’s financial support for the World Health Organization. But it is clear that existing regional and multilateral organisations, including the WHO, are not achieving the international co-operation needed to fight a global pandemic. It is up to Governments to forge consensus on action required to save lives now and to prepare for future pandemics.
From: Foreign Affairs Committee, First Report: Viral Immunity—The FCO’s role in building a coalition against COVID-19 (HC 239), paragraph 9, 6 April 2020
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 16 June 2020 (deadline 6 June 2020).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government says it "fully agrees" on the importance of greater multilateral cooperation to fight COVID-19 and sets out its international action, and it does not endorse a new body such as a 'G20 for Public Health'.
- On disinformation, the government says it "takes the issue of disinformation very seriously" and describes a DCMS-led cross-Whitehall Counter-Disinformation Unit set up to address COVID-19 disinformation and misinformation.
- On lessons learned, it agrees with the Committee on their importance and, as a co-sponsor of the 19 May World Health Assembly Resolution, says it will work with the WHO and other member states to continue to improve the agency's health emergency systems.
- On support to developing countries, it states it has committed "£764 million" of UK aid funding so far, split across three areas, including building resilience in vulnerable countries and finding a vaccine.
- On reforming multilateral organisations, it does not address the 'G20 for Public Health' idea directly. It says the crisis will point to further areas for reform, which will require "serious consideration and concerted action once the pandemic is over".