§ Mr. ParryTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance Her Majesty's Government have given to Palestine for educational projects in(a) the west bank and (b) Gaza; and if he will make a statement. [35649]
§ Mr. HanleyThe United Kingdom bilateral aid programme is funding a £3.2 million education project in the west bank and Gaza to secure sustained improvement in the quality of education in schools operated by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education. In addition the UK is providing £10,000 to support an English language teaching specialist under a United Nations Association International Service programme to work on teacher training with MEHE.
The UK is also contributing some 16 per cent. of the costs of two education projects supported by the European Union:
- i) provision of £9.45 million in running cost support this year for nine universities and 12 community colleges throughout the west bank and Gaza; and
- ii) a grant of £114,000 to establish an institutional vocational training qualification. The British Council is also supporting the project from funds to which the Overseas Development Administration contributes.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian refugees supports 200 schools in the west bank and 318 schools in Gaza. The UK is contributing to this programme both through its regular bilateral annual contributions to UNWRA's core programme budget and through the EU.