My Lords, HIV/AIDS may have gone off the front pages here in Britain, rightly or wrongly, but what is beyond doubt is that it remains a serious scourge in many countries overseas. How do our overseas assistance programmes, current and future, measure up to that specific and very serious challenge?

My Lords, HIV/AIDS may have gone off the front pages here in Britain, rightly or wrongly, but what is beyond doubt is that it remains a serious scourge in many countries overseas. How do our overseas assistance programmes, current and future, measure up to that specific and very serious challenge?

Lords motion to take note of recent developments in relation to broadcasting in the United Kingdom. Agreed to on question.

Lords motion to take note of recent developments in relation to broadcasting in the United Kingdom. Agreed to on question.

My Lords, when I first put down this Motion, it was really to draw the contrast between the amount of attention we are able to give to media issues in the House of Lords compared with the House of Commons. I do not think we have come out well out...

My Lords, when I first put down this Motion, it was really to draw the contrast between the amount of attention we are able to give to media issues in the House of Lords compared with the House of Commons. I do not think we have come out well out...

My Lords, I am not remotely going to attempt a further summing up. We had a very good summing up from the Minister, and I congratulate her and the two spokesmen of the political parties on what they have said.

The debate has proved and established what I said at the...

My Lords, I am not remotely going to attempt a further summing up. We had a very good summing up from the Minister, and I congratulate her and the two spokesmen of the political parties on what they have said.

The debate has proved and established what I said at the...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply. Today on World AIDS Day, we acknowledge the radical reduction that there has been in deaths from AIDS over past years, with deaths reducing worldwide from 1.4 million a year in 2010 to the present total of around 630,000. I hope that we will also acknowledge the terrible irony that, in spite of this success and in spite of the breakthrough with new drugs, nations, led regrettably by the United States but including others such as Britain, are cutting their overseas budgets. Surely, we will not be forgiven if we reject the exceptional opportunity we have now to eradicate AIDS as a public health threat as quickly as humanly possible.

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply. Today on World AIDS Day, we acknowledge the radical reduction that there has been in deaths from AIDS over past years, with deaths reducing worldwide from 1.4 million a year in 2010 to the present total of around 630,000. I hope that we will also acknowledge the terrible irony that, in spite of this success and in spite of the breakthrough with new drugs, nations, led regrettably by the United States but including others such as Britain, are cutting their overseas budgets. Surely, we will not be forgiven if we reject the exceptional opportunity we have now to eradicate AIDS as a public health threat as quickly as humanly possible.

To ask His Majesty’s Government, in the light of World Aids Day 2025, when they estimate that the goal of eliminating AIDS as a public health threat will be reached.

To ask His Majesty’s Government, in the light of World Aids Day 2025, when they estimate that the goal of eliminating AIDS as a public health threat will be reached.

My Lords, I have been a journalist for 60 years, leaving aside a rather lively period in which I served with the late Baroness Thatcher. But apart from that, I have been a journalist, and in that time I have also chaired two regional newspaper groups.

Of course, the BBC has...

My Lords, I have been a journalist for 60 years, leaving aside a rather lively period in which I served with the late Baroness Thatcher. But apart from that, I have been a journalist, and in that time I have also chaired two regional newspaper groups.

Of course, the BBC has...

I ask that the noble Baroness should support the gold standard of the BBC in its reports, and in its general reporting duty.

I ask that the noble Baroness should support the gold standard of the BBC in its reports, and in its general reporting duty.

My Lords, I entirely support the case made by the noble Lord, Lord Black, but I urge the Government to go further. About 9 million people in the world who need HIV treatment are not receiving it at present. That position is being seriously worsened by the American Government’s regrettable decision to cut healthcare provision in so many programmes. Will the Government now lead a new international effort to increase funding to counter this new threat, which is becoming more and more obvious around the world?

My Lords, I entirely support the case made by the noble Lord, Lord Black, but I urge the Government to go further. About 9 million people in the world who need HIV treatment are not receiving it at present. That position is being seriously worsened by the American Government’s regrettable decision to cut healthcare provision in so many programmes. Will the Government now lead a new international effort to increase funding to counter this new threat, which is becoming more and more obvious around the world?

To ask His Majesty's Government what is their estimate of the reduction in resources provided by the Government and voluntary sector to tackle HIV and AIDS domestically since the beginning of the year.

To ask His Majesty's Government what is their estimate of the reduction in resources provided by the Government and voluntary sector to tackle HIV and AIDS domestically since the beginning of the year.

My Lords, I very much appreciate the Answer that the Minister has given, but does she agree with me that there is far too much satisfaction shown by financial spokesmen on the reduction in overseas aid, given that the certain outcome is more illness and more death, particularly among women and small children?

My Lords, I very much appreciate the Answer that the Minister has given, but does she agree with me that there is far too much satisfaction shown by financial spokesmen on the reduction in overseas aid, given that the certain outcome is more illness and more death, particularly among women and small children?

My Lords, I know that, in my day, when I was party chairman—before I became independent—some of the biggest political donors were the trade unions. Does this review include the trade unions and the restrictions that could be placed on them?

My Lords, I know that, in my day, when I was party chairman—before I became independent—some of the biggest political donors were the trade unions. Does this review include the trade unions and the restrictions that could be placed on them?

My Lords, surely the only way of reaching some agreement on the size of the humanitarian disaster in Gaza is by allowing in the international press and television. They can report on what is actually happening there, as opposed to putting and leaving it in the hands of the public relations people. Should that not be one of the first priorities of the Government in their international discussions?

My Lords, surely the only way of reaching some agreement on the size of the humanitarian disaster in Gaza is by allowing in the international press and television. They can report on what is actually happening there, as opposed to putting and leaving it in the hands of the public relations people. Should that not be one of the first priorities of the Government in their international discussions?

My Lords, I declare an interest as having been a Member of Parliament for a Birmingham constituency—Sutton Coldfield—for 27 years, so I know a little about the area.

I am not sure that I agree with the Minister or my noble friend Lord Snape—he used to be my pair, so I...

My Lords, I declare an interest as having been a Member of Parliament for a Birmingham constituency—Sutton Coldfield—for 27 years, so I know a little about the area.

I am not sure that I agree with the Minister or my noble friend Lord Snape—he used to be my pair, so I...

My Lords, Amendment 85 is in my name. I will be extremely brief. I had originally written down that I agreed with some of what the noble Baroness, Lady Smith, had to say. Having listened to her, I am not sure that that fully explains my position; I found myself...

My Lords, Amendment 85 is in my name. I will be extremely brief. I had originally written down that I agreed with some of what the noble Baroness, Lady Smith, had to say. Having listened to her, I am not sure that that fully explains my position; I found myself...

To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the United States of America’s withdrawal from the World Health Organization on the global treatment of HIV/AIDS.

To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the United States of America’s withdrawal from the World Health Organization on the global treatment of HIV/AIDS.

My Lords, I am grateful for that reply. There have been, to date, 40 million deaths from AIDS across the world. Because of the success of efforts over the last years, official predictions were that AIDS could be eliminated as a public health disease by 2030, as the Minister has just said, but that was before the abrupt and recent changes of policy by the American Administration, which have caused havoc across the world. Is it really the Government’s view that the 2030 target is achievable in the new conditions? Do they share the view of most medical experts that the American policies are leading the world backwards, to defeat, in a vital area of public health?

My Lords, I am grateful for that reply. There have been, to date, 40 million deaths from AIDS across the world. Because of the success of efforts over the last years, official predictions were that AIDS could be eliminated as a public health disease by 2030, as the Minister has just said, but that was before the abrupt and recent changes of policy by the American Administration, which have caused havoc across the world. Is it really the Government’s view that the 2030 target is achievable in the new conditions? Do they share the view of most medical experts that the American policies are leading the world backwards, to defeat, in a vital area of public health?

My Lords, I fully share the noble Lord’s criticism of the particular programme, but we should recognise that that in no way describes the BBC’s general coverage of Gaza. Speaking as a former journalist who covered a Middle East war, I was struck by the way BBC journalists strived for...

My Lords, I fully share the noble Lord’s criticism of the particular programme, but we should recognise that that in no way describes the BBC’s general coverage of Gaza. Speaking as a former journalist who covered a Middle East war, I was struck by the way BBC journalists strived for...

My Lords, I will raise two brief but important points. I accept entirely that we should make savings to pay for the resources we are giving to defence, and I entirely support the strongest possible support for Ukraine. However, I do not understand why all the savings are concentrated on...

My Lords, I will raise two brief but important points. I accept entirely that we should make savings to pay for the resources we are giving to defence, and I entirely support the strongest possible support for Ukraine. However, I do not understand why all the savings are concentrated on...

My Lords, is it not true that we have not used community pharmacies in this country to their full potential? That impression was confirmed for me when I was chairman of such a group. Should our policy not be to develop community pharmacies so that they make an even bigger contribution to public health in this country? Would it not be better if pharmacists’ income came from that kind of effort, rather than from asking them to rely on the sale of cosmetics and other over the counter, commercial products?

My Lords, is it not true that we have not used community pharmacies in this country to their full potential? That impression was confirmed for me when I was chairman of such a group. Should our policy not be to develop community pharmacies so that they make an even bigger contribution to public health in this country? Would it not be better if pharmacists’ income came from that kind of effort, rather than from asking them to rely on the sale of cosmetics and other over the counter, commercial products?