§ Lord Brabazon of Taraasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have any plans to provide further aid to the Palestinians.
§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Chalker of Wallasey):My right honourable friend the Prime Minister today announced a new £ 7 million bilateral aid package for the Palestinians. Two million pounds of this will be provided for UNRWA's Peace Implementation Programme. Five million pounds will be allocated to a Know-How Programme covering assistance for management training for the ministries of the Palestinian Authority, small scale water and sewage treatment plants and water leak detection, health management, and education including English language teaching. We are also hoping to promote joint projects with UK private sector companies to help generate exports and employment in the West Bank and Gaza strip. Basic training for the civil police will also be considered. In addition 1 million dollars will be given towards the costs of UNRWA's moving offices to Gaza.
This will bring our total aid to the Palestinians in support of the peace process to £ 82 million.