§ 15. Mr. BurdenTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on her Department's efforts to promote economic development in the West Bank. [127752]
§ Clare ShortOur development strategy for the West Bank and Gaza Strip concentrates on nation building with a view to promoting peace, stability and economic development. To promote economic development we are intensifying our policy dialogue with the Palestinian Authority, and with the European Community, the International Monetary Fund, the World bank and others and funding a programme which supports this. We are providing technical assistance to the Ministry of Economy and Trade, to strengthen its capacity to develop and apply economic policy, particularly with regard to trade with the EC and the region. Our programme also emphasises the importance of an accountable and transparent government framework in which private investors can operate. Our bilateral programme expenditure for 1999–2000 was approximately £8 million. Our contribution to the United Nations Relief Works Agency for Palestinian refugees and our share of European Community and other multilateral programmes for the Palestinians takes our average annual contribution to over £25 million in recent years.