To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions (a) he and (b) officials in his Department have had with the government of Egypt on the opening to cargo of the Rafah border crossing; and if he will make a statement. (282183)

[holding answer 25 June 2009]: It is vital that aid reaches the people in Gaza who need it. The UK has been consistent in its calls for better humanitarian access to the area. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has raised this issue on a number of occasions, most recently in his statement to the UN Security Council on 11 May 2009.

My predecessor, my hon. Friend the Member for Harlow (Bill Rammell) raised the issue of access through the Rafah crossing for humanitarian aid providers with the Egyptian Government when he was in Egypt on 21 May 2009. All aid to Gaza from Egypt is channelled through the Egyptian Red Crescent.