Written Question:

Mr. Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government has made to the Government of Israel to open the border passes to the Gaza Strip. [196520]

Member Answering Question: Jim Murphy, Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Answer: [holding answer 25 March 2008]: The UK believes that the Gaza border crossings should be opened for both humanitarian and commercial activity. On 28 January 2008 my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary, with his EU colleagues, announced that the EU would be willing to redeploy the EU border assistance mission at Rafah when conditions allow. Our embassy in Tel Aviv regularly raises this issue with the Israeli Government.