§ Mr. David NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwaelth Affairs what assistance has been provided to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency in the current financial year.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydHer Majesty Government's regular support for UNRWA amounts in 1992–93 to some £6 million, maintaining the United Kingdom's position as one of UNRWA's major donors. In addition, my noble friend the Minister for Overseas Development has agreed to provide nearly US$820,000—around £0.55 million—for the construction and equipping of a 630-place elementary and preparatory level girls school. The school is to be built at Beit Ula in the Hebron area of the West Bank and will help to relieve the increasing pressure on educational facilities among the growing school-age Palestinian community. Construction of this British/UNRWA school in a needy area is expected to start shortly and to be completed within 18 months. When complete it will provide 12 new classrooms, a laboratory, a library, a multi-purpose room, two administrative rooms arid playground as well as necessary furnishings and teaching equipment.
We also contribute to the work of UNRWA via the EC which is to meet the total construction costs of the new Gaza general hospital, a 232 bed facility. The EC is providing 13 mecu and construction is expected to begin in February 1993.