END POLIO – A QUESTION OF FUNDING?
Our attempts to influence Government policy by writing to our MP with our concerns at the 90% reduction in UK funding for the Global Polio Eradication
We Seek Answers To Our Concerns
In May as part of the Rotary Gb&II campaign, Immediate Past President Peter Greene and current President Les Sheppard, wrote to our MP John Baron to express our concerns at the 90 percent reduction in UK funding for the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.
Polio eradication is a Rotary campaign which we have supported over many years starting with our own Chandra Gupta. We believe that all members should be made aware of the concerns expressed formally by our Club officers and therefore are reproducing the replies received.
Members may judge the adequacy of the response, not least Chandra who put us on this worthy path many years ago.
John Baron replies:
Initial response:
Dear Peter and Leslie,
Overseas Aid Budget and Eradication of Polio
Thank you both for your letters, received by my office on 11 May 2021, expressing your concerns that the reduction of the Overseas Aid Budget will have a negative effect on the drive to eradicate polio. I have written on your behalf to the Secretary for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs and I will write again once I receive a response.
Office of John Baron MP
Final response:
30 July 2021Dear Mr Sheppard and Mr Greene
Further to our previous correspondence, please find attached the reply we have received from the Government in response to our enquiries on your behalf - I have attached a copy for each of you.
Needless to say, should you wish to discuss this further then please do not hesitate to contact us again.
Regards
Office of John Baron MP
The attached reply reads:
Mr John Baron MP29 July 2021
Thank you for your correspondence of 12th May to the Foreign Secretary, on behalf of your constituents Mr. Greene and Mr. Sheppard of the Billericay, Rotary Club, regarding the UK’s funding for polio eradication. I am replying as the Minister for the European Neighbourhood and the Americas. We consider the Rotary Club as one of our strongest allies in polio eradication efforts and are deeply appreciative of their support.
I am grateful for the information Mr. Greene and Mr Sheppard shared and am aware of the impressive results that the Global Polio Eradication lnitiative has delivered. As they note, the UK is a strong supporter of the global efforts to eradicate polio. Over the last 25 years we have contributed £1.37bn in funding to GPEI, we have provided technical guidance and we have used our influence to ensure polio eradication remains a major focus of the world’s governments, including at the recent G7 where we reaffirmed our commitment to polio eradication. I am immensely proud of our contribution to polio eradication and we will continue to be strongly engaged.
I understand their concerns regarding the reduction in ODA, however health remains a top priority for the UK and we will continue to be a major contributor and a force for good in leading international action, as was set out in the recent lntegrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy. The Prime Minister has stressed the importance of an improved global disease surveillance system and as the G7 confirmed, this should integrate and build on existing systems such as polio and influenza. However, the exceptional circumstances created by the pandemic have forced us to take tough but necessary decisions, including temporarily reducing the aid budget and reducing funding to some programmes, including GPEI. As the Chancellor set out recently, we are committed to return to spend 0.7% of GNI on ODA as soon as the fiscal situation allows.
Wendy Morton MP
Minister for the European Neighbourhood and Americas
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