16. To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to facilitate the opening of border crossings into Gaza. (302609)

The UK continues to call on the Government of Israel to open the crossings into Gaza more fully. The Prime Minister raised this directly with the Israeli Prime Minister on 15 October 2009; I did the same on 27 October 2009 with the Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister. Securing better access to Gaza will remain a priority for the Government.