Written question asked by Lynne Jones (Labour) on Monday, 4 April 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 7 April 2005. It was answered by Hilary Benn (Labour) on Thursday, 7 April 2005 on behalf of the Department for International Development.

Dept for International Development

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will make a statement on the outcome of his Department's work with the World Health Organisation on the launch of the Global Tuberculosis Control Report.

Answer: Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the outcome of his Department's work with the World Health Organisation on the launch of the Global Tuberculosis Control Report. [224809] Hilary Benn: The Global Tuberculosis Control Report was launched on 23 March by the Director General of the World Health Organisation at a press briefing in London co-hosted by DFID. The Report for 2005 says that global Tuberculosis (TB) prevalence has declined by more than 20 per cent. since 1990 and that incidence is now falling or stable in five of the six regions of the world. The exception is Africa, where TB is one of the most common illnesses among people with AIDS. TB incidence has tripled since 1990 in countries with high HIV prevalence and are still rising across the continent at a rate of 3-4 per cent. annually. DFID supports bilateral TB programmes in some countries and sector support in others. On 23 March, DFID also pledged £5 million over the next three years to the Stop TB partnership, this will provide technical support to expand TB programmes in recipient countries. The UK will work through our presidencies of the G8, and the EU to secure the international commitment needed to scale up TB control. DFID has commenced a consultation on TB with NGOs, academic institutions and others with expertise on how the UK can best do this.

Secondary information