Gaza Strip: Rafah Crossing Debate

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Department: Leader of the House

Gaza Strip: Rafah Crossing

Baroness Morgan of Ely Excerpts
Tuesday 30th June 2015

(9 years, 4 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Baroness Morgan of Ely Portrait Baroness Morgan of Ely (Lab)
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My Lords, as of April this year, of the $3.5 billion promised by donors for the reconstruction of Gaza, only 26% of the money has been released. Not one of the 19,000 destroyed homes has been rebuilt. Can the Minister explain what pressure the Government are bringing to bear on the donors to release the promised funds, and can he confirm whether the UK has honoured its commitments to Gaza on this subject?

Earl of Courtown Portrait The Earl of Courtown
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My Lords, the noble Baroness refers to the Cairo pledges. The United Kingdom has honoured 80% of its pledges and has 20% outstanding. That will be spent over the next financial year and will concentrate on job creation, getting people into work, which we all know will help their economy. As for the other countries and their pledges, pressure is being put on them to spend more money in that area.