HC Deb 15 May 2002 vol 385 c668W
Richard Burden

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of damage caused to, and the likely costs of repair to, projects in the west bank and Gaza which are funded by Her Majesty's Government and EU institutions during(a) Israeli military incursions in April and (b) Israeli military action between September 2000 and April 2002; and if he will list the projects involved. [54860]

Clare Short

I have been asked to reply.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answers given on 26 March 2002, Official Report, column 877W, and I May 2002, Official Report, column 843W. A list of damaged projects was placed in the Library of the House.

The recent Israeli re-occupation has moved the issue of damage and assessment to an entirely different scale. A detailed damage assessment is being conducted by the international agencies. A joint World Bank/UNSCO (UN Special Co-ordinator's Office) paper is due to be circulated by 13 May, and follow-up action discussed at a local aid co-ordination committee meeting later next week. EU contribution to reconstruction efforts will be considered there (from the Commission and from member states).