Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to recognise a Palestinian State.

The UK commitment to a two-state solution is unwavering. We are committed to recognising a Palestinian state at a time that has the greatest impact and is most conducive to long-term prospects for peace. We are clear that does not need to be at the end of a process. UK bilateral recognition is the single most important action the UK can take with regard to Palestinian statehood. That is why it is important to get the timing right so that it creates genuine momentum and is not simply a symbolic gesture. We are continuing to engage all partners on advancing a two-state solution and supporting the foundations of Palestinian statehood. That is why we welcomed Palestinian Authority (PA) Prime Minister Mohamad Mustafa to London in April. During the visit, we announced a package of £101 million which included support for governance reforms in the PA, and signed a UK-PA Memorandum of Understanding on Strategic Cooperation.