To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his (a) Israeli, (b) Egyptian and (c) Palestinian counterparts on the commitment of the Government together with the US, Norway, Germany, France, Canada, Italy, the Netherlands and Denmark to implement measures to prevent arms smuggling from Iran into the Gaza Strip. (278470)

The matter of counter weapons-smuggling to armed groups in Gaza is part of our regular discourse on Middle East Peace Process issues with the EU, US and regional partners, including Israel, Egypt and the Palestinian Authority. Stopping the flow of weapons along with ensuring humanitarian and reconstruction access to Gaza are vital elements to securing a lasting ceasefire.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made on his undertaking together with Italy, Germany and France, to provide naval resources to stop the flow of weapons from Iran into the Gaza Strip. (278471)

Taking action to prevent the smuggling of arms into Gaza plays a key role in consolidating the ceasefire.

We will continue to work closely with the EU, US and regional partners to establish how best our expertise, including naval resources, can be used. Officials are attending a meeting on prevention of arms smuggling to Gaza in Ottawa on 10-11 June 2009. This is a follow up meeting to the ones held in Copenhagen and London where a programme of action was agreed by the nine participating countries (Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, the UK, and the US).