Petition · past parliament

Help countries with weak healthcare systems to tackle covid-19 #GlobalPandemic

Rejected 12 signatures

What the petition asks

1. Keep UK foreign aid funding at 0.7%, recognising that covid-19 is a global pandemic, and we are only as safe as the most vulnerable people.
2. Allow flexibility for grantee organisations/countries to react as they need to covid-19
The UK public, and the public in every country, is only as safe as the most vulnerable people during a global pandemic.

It's at this time when we really are all in the same boat, and must support the most vulnerable, otherwise none of us will be safe.

Why it was rejected

The UK Government or Parliament was already taking the action it asked for.

The target to spend 0.7% of national income on foreign aid is enshrined in law, and the UK Government is already supporting other countries, particularly in developing countries, to reduce the spread of coronavirus. Youcan read more about the Government's activity in this area here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-leads-global-fight-to-prevent-second-wave-of-coronavirus

You can find out more about coronavirus and how you can protect yourself and others here:

www.gov.uk/coronavirus
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

The Government has also created an online service to help you out what you can do if you’re struggling because of coronavirus: https://www.gov.uk/find-coronavirus-support

You can read NHS tips to help if you are worried about coronavirus here: https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/coronavirus-covid-19-anxiety-tips

You can read impartial analysis of the Government response to coronavirus and policy developments here: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/coronavirus/

You may also be interested to know that because of the large number of petitions that have been started in relation to coronavirus, the Petitions Committee has been questioning the Government about its response to the coronavirus outbreak.

Find out more and watch the Committee put questions suggested by petitioners to Government Ministers and the Deputy Chief Medical Officer: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/news/145767/committee-question-deputy-chief-medical-officer-and-ministers-on-coronavirus-response/

Read letters asking further questions of Government Ministers: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/publications/3/correspondence/

Timeline

28 Mar 2020 Petition opened for signatures
12 May 2020 Rejected by the Petitions Committee

Key facts

Signatures 12
Status Rejected
Rejected 12 May 2020

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.