HC Deb 26 May 2004 vol 421 c1668W
Tom Brake

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what assistance his Department provides to the Bedouins in the Negev; [175204]

(2) what discussions he has held with the Israeli Government about the situation of the Bedouins in the Negev. [175202]

Mr. Gareth Thomas

The Negev desert is part of Israel. DFID does not work in Israel because it is not a developing country. DFID's mandate for poverty reduction requires us to focus our efforts on development and humanitarian assistance in developing countries. DFID has had no discussions with the Israeli Government about the situation of Bedouins in the Negev.