HC Deb 18 November 2003 vol 413 c759W
Ms Oona King

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what financial aid the Occupied Palestinian Territories received from his Department in each of the last five years; and what provision his Department has made for aid to the Occupied Palestinan Territories in each of the next four years. [138375]

Hilary Benn

Bilateral financial aid to the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including support to UNRWA, over the last five years was as follows:

£ million
1998–99 8.5
1999–2000 21
2000–01 28
2001–02 39.5
2002–03 34

This financial year we plan to spend about £40.2 million.

In addition DFID provided, from 1998 to 2002, a total of approximately £132 million through the European Commission, and since 1994 to June this year approximately £12 million through the World Bank.

The department has made the following provisions for aid to the Occupied Palestinian Territories and UNRWA: 2004–05, £26.5 million and 2005–06, £26.5 million. We do not currently have planning figures beyond 2005–06. Our support through the EC and the World Bank will continue during this period.