HL Deb 02 May 1995 vol 563 c108WA
Lord Hylton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How much of the £82 million of British aid pledged over three years for the Palestinians has so far been expended; and whether work has started on health and sewerage projects, through UNWRA's Peace Implementation Programme; and if not, when a start is expected.

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

To date some £24.5 million of the £82 million we intend to provide has been disbursed. Most of our pledge will be channelled through the programmes of the European Community (EC) and the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which has responsibility for assisting Palestinian refugees. The EC is committed to providing 500 million ecu (about £400 million) in assistance to the Palestinians over five years. As at February 1995 it had disbursed 73 million ecu. In addition, the EC contributed 25 million ecu to UNRWA last year. Our share of EC aid is about one-sixth. Bilaterally, in 1994/95 we gave £6 million to UNRWA and spent a further £6 million on projects. We are currently appraising a health and sewerage project under UNRWA's Peace Implementation Plan.