Oral Answers to Questions

Michael McCann Excerpts

Wednesday 13th October 2010 Commons Chamber

[Mr Duncan]

My hon. Friend is largely correct. Although it is true that some building materials are getting through to multilateral organisations, they certainly are not getting through to private citizens—for the building of houses for example. Schools must be rebuilt, and we certainly urge the Israelis to ensure that any materials that can be used for the essential reconstruction of schools and the like can be allowed through.

[Mr Michael McCann (East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow) (Lab)]

5. What recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of UK-Israeli co-operation on international development.

[The Minister of State, Department for International Development (Mr Alan Duncan)]

Israel’s international development agency, Mashav, which is part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has a small programme focusing on sharing technical knowledge and humanitarian aid. Mashav operates in a number of countries, including, within the region, Jordan and Egypt, but not in the occupied Palestinian territories. The UK currently has no direct co-operation with Israel on international development. We hope that Israel, having recently become a member of the OECD, will consider joining the OECD’s development assistance committee, which verifies the validity of its aid.

[Mr McCann]

Given the Israeli President’s offer at the United Nations to share its scientific innovations to help to tackle global poverty, as well as its recent membership of the OECD, will the Government be sending a delegate to the forthcoming OECD conference in Jerusalem? If not, why not?

[Mr Duncan]

We will certainly, in the normal way, consider the suggestion that the hon. Gentleman has made, and look at it very seriously indeed.