To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with (a) the government of Israel and (b) the United Nations on the loss of unexploded Israeli ordnance in Gaza. (259542)

We are very concerned about reports that unexploded ordnance has gone missing in Gaza. We fully support the UN call for the unexploded material to be returned so that it can be safely disposed of by professionals trained to do so.

The UK has been very clear about the danger this sort of material poses. For this reason we moved quickly to fund the mines advisory group to assess and clear unexploded ordnance and have called on the Israeli government to allow mines clearance personnel entry to Gaza.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the government of Israel on funding for reconstruction in Gaza; and if he will make a statement. (259543)

The reconstruction of Gaza needs more than pledges of aid. The aid needs to get in; it needs to be well spent; and then it needs to be sustained. The Government continue to call on the Israeli government to improve access and to relax tough restrictions on the type of goods that are allowed across the border.

My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary reiterated this message during the reconstruction conference in Sharm El-Sheik on 2 March 2009 as did the International Development Secretary during his visit to Gaza on 1 March 2009. Both have raised the issue directly with Israeli Minister of Welfare and Social Services, Isaac Herzog.