HL Deb 18 May 1993 vol 545 cc86-7WA
Lord Mayhew

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How far the sealing-off of the West Bank and Gaza from Israel disrupts the work of the United Kingdom Relief and Works Agency and what representations they have made to the Israeli Government about this.

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

We have raised with the Israelis the economic and social consequences of the sealing off of the Occupied Territories. The closures, and particularly the restrictions on access between Jerusalem, and the West Bank, have made the task of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency more difficult.

Lord Mayhew

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will increase their grant to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency to meet half of the growing cost of medical aid to Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza.

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

We continue to be one of UNRWA's leading donors. In 1992-93 we made a contribution of £6 million to the agency's core budget and last month paid an initial tranche of £3 million as part of our 1993-94 contribution, which overall is expected to reach a similar level. These contributions are unearmarked and can be used by UNRWA on any of its activities. In addition we are funding the construction and equipping of a new girls' school at Beit Ula in the West Bank. Through the Supplementary Programme for the Occupied Territories (SPOT) we provided over £600,000 in 1992–93 for NGO Medical and Health Projects and have already committed some £300,000 this year.