§ Mr. WigginTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on bilateral relations with the Palestinian authorities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. [184026]
§ Mr. RammellThrough our Consulate-General in Jerusalem and the British Information Service Office in Gaza we conduct discussions with the Palestinian Authority on a range of issues. These crucially include how the UK can support the Palestinian Authority in meeting its obligations under the Roadmap; work with the Palestinian Authority to build its capacity on security is one such example. My noble Friend Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean last visited the Palestinian Authority in January 2004. The Consulate-General offers a full visa and consular service in Jerusalem and the Occupied Territories.
The UK is a significant bilateral donor of development assistance in the Occupied Territories. The Department for International Development has planned expenditure of £16.15 million on assistance to the Palestinian Authority and Palestinian civil society, and a further £12.35 million for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian refugees in the current financial year.