To ask Her Majesty's Government what were the conclusions of the assessment by the EU Police Mission in the Palestinian Territories (EUPOL COPPS) of the criminal justice system run by the Palestinian Authority; and how the EU is providing support or training for the Palestinian prison service. [HL2700]

The assessment report concluded that improvement is needed in all areas; in prosecution for example more than 60 per cent of the prosecutors are inexperienced, have been employed in the past year and still need additional basic training and supervision. In the courts the non-appearance of accused and witnesses results in numerous adjournments that contribute to the build-up of pending cases. In the penitentiary there is a lack of resources committed to rehabilitating and resocialising prisoners, and a serious lack of rules and regulations governing the running of detention facilities.

The report led to an Action Plan for EU Police Mission for the Palestinian Territories (EUPOL COPPS) Rule of Law section in partnership with Palestinian stakeholders and in co-ordination with international actors. EUPOL COPPS has two penitentiary experts providing technical advice to the UN Office of Drugs and Crime Palestinian prison reform programme, which is funded by the Government of Canada. It also takes a co-ordinating role within the wider donor community bringing together the Dutch programme to refurbish seven West Bank detention centres and to build a new prison in Jericho, the European Community project to build a new prison in Nablus and the three-year programme to provide prison training and equipment, which is being funded by the US International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Agency.