Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Justine Greening and Anne McGuire

Wednesday 4th February 2015 Commons Chamber

[Dame Anne McGuire (Stirling) (Lab)]

1. What assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the tripartite mechanism for the reconstruction of Gaza.

[The Secretary of State for International Development (Justine Greening)]

We are supporting the temporary Gaza reconstruction mechanism to facilitate the import of construction materials into Gaza. Almost 40,000 people have now been able to buy materials to repair their homes. There is still a lot more to do, but the mechanism is a step in the right direction.

[Dame Anne McGuire]

Does the Secretary of State agree that the UN needs to take action to ensure that all the building materials going into Gaza are used to alleviate the dire conditions of the Gazan people, rather than diverted by Hamas for military purposes?

[Justine Greening]

The right hon. Lady is quite right to raise that as an issue to be considered. There is no evidence at the moment to suggest that what she is worried about is happening. In addition, part of our support for the reconstruction mechanism has been to fund a monitoring process so that the right checks can be made to avoid such things happening.