Oral Answers to Questions

Paul Waugh Excerpts

Tuesday 13th May 2025 Commons Chamber

[Joe Morris (Hexham) (Lab)]

3. What steps he is taking to help improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

[Paul Waugh (Rochdale) (Lab/Co-op)]

8. What steps he is taking to help improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

[David Chadwick (Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe) (LD)]

21. What steps he is taking to support people impacted by the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Falconer]

I can give my hon. Friend that assurance. We are doing everything we can to ensure that aid gets in, that hostages are released, that Hamas are no longer in charge of Gaza, and that we get the ceasefire and path to a two-state solution that we so desperately need.

[Paul Waugh]

The UN’s Philippe Lazzarini is right, isn’t he, to say today that Israel is committing a “massive atrocity” by blocking aid to the children of Gaza? As well as the urgent need for aid, the Palestinian people need more trade with countries like the UK. Will the Minister explain how my constituents in Rochdale can buy more Palestinian goods, such as olive oil, herbs and dates, and support tech companies and the many co-operatives that operate in the west bank and in Gaza?

[Mr Falconer]

I know that Rochdale is the home of the co-operative movement in this country and that there are many co-operatives in the Occupied Palestinian Territories as well. On 20 April, we signed a memorandum of understanding with the Palestinian Authority. That includes pursuing further co-operation in exactly the areas he describes, including economic development and trade.