HL Deb 07 February 1994 vol 551 c105WA
Lord Hylton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have any information about the extent to which agreements have so far been reached concerning the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip and the Jericho area, and as regards the handing over to Palestinian control of responsibility for education, health, welfare, taxation, tourism and local policing; and whether and in what way they are helping the processes of agreement and implementation.

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

Negotiations about Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and Jericho continue in various locations. Much progress has been made. The two sides have expressed the hope of reaching agreement, at least in principle, as soon as possible. The functional areas of responsibility to be handed over to the Palestinians in Gaza/Jericho and in the West Bank, as well as economic issues, are being discussed in other fora, and we understand that they have made some progress.

We are using our contacts with all parties to encourage agreement and providing training and technical assistance to the Palestinians through programmes of bilateral and multilateral aid.