Rt Hon Alistair Darling MP

International Volunteer Day recognised the work of thousands of volunteers.

Well-directed schemes have a beneficial local impact through sharing skills and raising public awareness of development issues.  This is why we support organisations like International Service, Progressio and Skillshare.  We also provide support to Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO) - £28 million this year - to contribute towards its many volunteering schemes.  VSO works with schools, communities and adults who are interested in volunteering abroad.

The Department for International Development is launching 2 new initiatives: Youth Volunteering and Diaspora Volunteering.

Youth Volunteering will be a £10 million three-year initiative. It will engage young people, especially those who wouldn’t normally get the opportunity to volunteer, to get directly involved in poverty reduction schemes and to pass on their experience to their peers and communities.

Diaspora Volunteering is another 3 year initiative, with £3 million support.  It will encourage people to become active volunteers in their countries of origin or in other countries to develop a deeper understanding of the wider development context.

World Aids Day was also this month.  Many have campaigned to secure improved services for people living with HIV/AIDS across the globe so I want to outline the scale of the global challenge and update you on the government’s programmes.

There are 33.2 million people living with HIV and AIDS worldwide.  Everyday, over 6,800 people become infected with HIV and over 5,700 people die from AIDS.  Over two thirds of the new infections this year were in Sub-Saharan Africa.  And an estimated 11.4 million children across the region have been orphaned by AIDS.

The UK is the world’s second largest donor, pledging to spend £1.5 billion on HIV/AIDS programmes in the three years up to 2008.  The government has also made an unprecedented long term commitment until 2015 of up to £1 billion to the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

But we cannot meet this challenge on its own.  That’s why we have been at the forefront of global efforts to meet this challenge.  During the UK Presidency of the G8 an historic package was agreed for HIV prevention, treatment and care, with the aim of universal access to treatment by 2010.

In September, the Prime Minister launched the International Health Partnership which aims to improve coordination amongst donors to deliver improved health systems in recipient countries.  Strengthening health services is the most sustainable way of improving poor people’s lives and addressing the health aspects of HIV and AIDS.

Please contact me if you have any questions or would like more information on any of these initiatives.

Finally, can I take this opportunity to wish you a very happy Christmas and a good New Year.