An MP has been appointed to a new independent commission to develop recommendations to end HIV transmissions and deaths.

Wes Streeting, Labour MP for Ilford North will be a commissioner on the HIV Commission, set up with the aim of ending HIV transmissions in England by 2030.

The commission has been created by the HIV charities the Terrence Higgins Trust and NAT (National AIDS Trust).

Chaired by Dame Inga Beale, the former CEO of Lloyd’s of London, it will will host community events, a public online consultation, and a national call for evidence from those directly impacted by HIV before publishing its recommendations next spring.

Mr Streeting, formerly deputy leader of Redbridge Council and cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “I am absolutely delighted to be joining the commission. Ours can be the first generation to eradicate HIV if we step up to the mark. I’m determined to make sure that we do.”

The Government set a goal last January for England to become one of the first countries in the world to reach the UN zero-infections target.

The Government will convene an expert group to develop an action plan to end new HIV transmissions after it receives the HIV Commission’s recommendations.

Dame Inga Beale said: “We have a unique opportunity to end new HIV transmission in England. We will develop evidence – based recommendations to make this happen within a decade.

“We will be working with experts from the science and public health communities, and drawing on the expertise and experience of people living with HIV, businesses, the voluntary sector and the public to develop a credible way to make England the first country in the world to achieve this ambition.

“This is a big challenge, but it’s one we can achieve.”

Ian Green, chief executive at the Terrence Higgins Trust, said: “In the 1980s and early 1990s an HIV diagnosis was a death sentence, but now we’re aiming to end new HIV transmissions in England over the next 10 years. That’s incredible progress by anyone’s standards but we need a clear plan for achieving this ambitious target if we’re to make it a reality.

“That’s why we’ve worked hard to assemble an exceptional group of people to map out the journey we need to take.”

Anyone interested in the work of the commission should visit: www.hivcommission.org.uk.