13 May 2011

Political Affairs Brief A daily summary of political events affecting the Jewish Community

Scottish Council of Jewish Communities

SCoJeC

Contents Home Affairs Relevant Legislation Israel Consultations

Home Affairs Welsh Assembly Government New Team Delivers for Wales First Minister Carwyn Jones has today [13 May 2011] announced the members of his new Cabinet … Rt Hon Carwyn Jones First Minister of Wales Delivery Unit, Energy, Wales for Africa, Intergovernmental relations, Wales in the World, European Union, Civil Service Reform Edwina Hart Minister for Business, Enterprise and Technology Lesley Griffiths Minister for Health and Social Services Jane Hutt Minister for Finance and Leader of the House John Griffiths Minister for Environment and Sustainable Development Leighton Andrews Minister for Education and Skills Carl Sargeant Minister for Local Government and Communities Huw Lewis Minister for Housing, Regeneration and Heritage

Deputy Ministers Gwenda Thomas Deputy Minister for Children and Social Services Jeff Cuthbert Deputy Minister for Skills Alun Davies Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and European Programmes To read the full press release see http://wales.gov.uk/newsroom/firstminister/2011/cabinet/?lang=en TOP

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Israel UK Parliamentary Questions Israel and Palestine: West Bank Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the rights of Bedouin herding communities in the West Bank; and what discussions they have had with the Government of Israel to ensure freedom of movement for this group. [HL8680] The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): We remain concerned that Israel's minority Arab population, including Bedouin Arab minorities, are suffering institutional, legal and societal inequality and discrimination. We continue to support calls made by the EU and the UN for a genuine and satisfactory solution to these problems. I raised this issue with Foreign Minister Lieberman when I met with him in Israel in January 2011. Officials have also raised the issue with the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the EU delegation office in Israel wrote to the Government of Israel in March 2011 about the demolition of Bedouin villages in the Negev. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201011/ldhansrd/text/110512w0001.htm#110 51252000375

Gaza Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Government of Israel regarding access to Gaza via the Erez border crossing for foreign parliamentary delegations.[HL8681] The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): We regularly raise our concerns about Gaza, including on movement and access issues, with the Government of Israel. We will continue to work with the quartet representative, the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority to reopen Gaza for business. We believe that a strong economy in the Occupied Territories is key to promoting peace, stability and prosperity. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201011/ldhansrd/text/110512w0001.htm#110 51252000367

Palestinians: Overseas Aid Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what aid his Department has provided to Palestinian people (a) through the EU, (b) through UN agencies and (c) directly in each of the last three years; and what proportion of such aid went to (i) Palestinian refugees, (ii) Gaza and (iii) the West Bank. [55020] Mr Duncan: The table shows how much aid the UK has provided to the Palestinian people over the last three years through our imputed share of European Union (EU) aid spending in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs); through UN agencies such as the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), World Food Programme and UN Mines Action Services; and through bilateral programming which includes both financial assistance to the Palestinian Authority (PA) and various projects across the OPTs, Our support to Palestinian refugees is provided through UNRWA and helps provide basic services, such as education, health care and social services, to Palestinian refugees across the OPTs, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. The figure for UK support to refugees through the EU is estimated from the proportion of EU support to UNRWA relative to its total support to the OPTs. It is not possible fully to disaggregate UK aid to Gaza and to the West Bank. For example, our financial assistance to the Palestinian Authority (PA), via a World Bank Trust Fund, helps pay for basic services and salaries of public sector

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workers in both Gaza and the West Bank. The table disaggregates Gaza-specific assistance (such as support for humanitarian and early recovery activity) where it is possible to do so. EU assistance to the OPTs is similarly provided via a variety of instruments, and from the information available it is not possible to disaggregate between Gaza and the West Bank. 2008 % 2009 % 2010 % EU (imputed €64.69 — €72.52 — €51.79 — share) million million million Refugees €10.64 16 €23.73 33 €9.45 18 million million million Gaza and West €54.05 84 €48.79 67 €42.34 82 Bank million million million

UN Agencies £19 million — £32.88 — £33.73 — million million Refugees £19 million 10 £24.93 76 £27 million 80 0 million Gaza £0 0 £7.95 24 £6.73 20 million million West Bank £0 0 £0 0 £0 0

Other support £59.55 — £47.64 — £57.64 — million million million Refugees £0 0 £0 0 £0 0 Gaza £2 million 3 £13.45 28 £0.90 1.5 million million West Bank £0 0 £0 0 £4.4 million 7.5 West Bank and £57.55 97 £34.19 72 £52.34 91 Gaza million million million http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm110512/text/110512w0 001.htm#11051253000031 TOP

Relevant Legislation ** New or updated

UK Parliament Charities Bill http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2010-11/charitieshl.html

Daylight Saving Bill http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2010-11/daylightsaving.html

** Fixed Term Parliaments Bill http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2010-11/fixedtermparliaments.html

Notice of amendments http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/lbill/2010-2011/0060/amend/ml060-ii.htm

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Food Labelling Regulations (Amendment) Bill http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2010-11/foodlabellingregulationsamendment.html

Localism Bill http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2010-11/localism.html

** Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2010-11/policereformandsocialresponsibility.html

Notice of amendments http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201011/ldbills/062/amend/su062-irb.htm

** Protection of Freedoms Bill http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2010-11/protectionoffreedoms.html

Public Bill Committee Proceedings http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/2010-2011/0146/pro1461205p.49- 55.html TOP

Consultations ** new or updated Northern Ireland Assembly Draft Equality Scheme for the Department of Justice 2011-2015 (closing date 10 June 2011) http://www.dojni.gov.uk/index/public-consultations/current- consultations/consultation_on_the_draft_equality_scheme_for_the_department_of_justi ce_2011_-_2015.htm

Reform of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (closing date 15 June 2011) http://www.equalities.gov.uk/what_we_do/ehrc_reform.aspx

Amendments to the Anti-Terrorism Crime and Security Act 2001 (closing date 17 June 2011) http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/consultations/cons-relaunch-atcsa/

Family Justice Review Interim Report (closing date 23 June 2011) http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/docs/family-justice-review-interim-rep.pdf

Civil partnerships on religious premises (closing date 23 June 2011) http://www.equalities.gov.uk/news/civil_partnership.aspx TOP

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