Key points: Blair grilled by MPs

By Justin Parkinson

Tony Blair has returned to the UK's Parliament for the first time since stepping down as prime minister to discuss his work as Middle East envoy. Here are the main points, as they happened:

JOIN THE DEBATE Your views: Tony Blair faces MPs

1339: Liberal Democrat international development spokesman Michael Moore says: "Tony Blair has ducked the central issue of the humanitarian obligations of Israel and the international community to deliver assistance to the Palestinian people. He was at best ambiguous about Israel's obligations in providing humanitarian access to Gaza. The Israelis' right to security must never be downplayed, but the deliberate isolation of the Palestinians is an outrage that the world should no longer tolerate."

Blair 'fears harming talks'

1219: The charity Oxfam says it praises Mr Blair's efforts to "get vital supplies into the Gaza region", but calls on him to "find a new strategy to deliver the opening of all crossing points", which is "essential to avoid a worsening humanitarian crisis and the potential collapse of negotiations".

1214: The session closes, with Mr Bruce thanking the former prime minister for attending and asking him to give the committee further comments in future.

1213: The international community must "focus the whole time" on the Middle East, with the next US president making it a priority, as it is of "fundamental" importance, Mr Blair says. It is even "more important" than he thought it was when prime minister, he adds.

1211: As the session comes towards a close, Mr Blair says nobody on the Palestinian side has ever "put it to me as a serious point" that he is "legitimising the occupation". He supports an "integrated strategy", involving politics, security, economics and other aspects of life, he adds, arguing there are "parallels with Northern Ireland".

1209: It is "very important to encourage a sort of civil society exchange" between Israelis and Palestinians, Mr Blair says.

1207: If more "confidence" could be built there could be "momentum", the former prime minister says. It is "natural" to start with Gaza, he adds.

1204: Most "sensible Israelis" know a two-state solution must be reached, Mr Blair says.

1202: The Berlin conference later this month is "really important", Mr Blair says, adding that a "proper plan" for Palestinian security is needed, along with courts and prisons. The security situation is "not just about people with weapons", the former prime minister tells the MPs. He predicts the Palestinians will agree to reform security forces and training. It is "very difficult" but a "state is not just a geographical territory", but rather needs a single rule of law, Mr Blair says.

1158: Questioned on checkpoints run by Israel, Mr Blair says they "should be upgraded" to allow quicker movements of people, adding that evidence from his visits shows that a "small but significant investment can make a difference".

1153: Asked about Palestinian living standards and access to groundwater resources, Mr Blair replies that the Quartet has agreed with Israelis over infrastructure projects but that there are long-term decisions to be made on water use, particularly along the Jordan valley.

1151: Mr Blair says the "vast bulk" of industrial projects will have a mixture of Palestinian, Israeli and global investors.

1148: Mr Blair says most people on the Palestinian side are "desperate" to get more freedom.

1145: "I don't think Mr Blair should be visiting Gaza at all. I don't think this man has any place being a peace envoy when he brought war and terror to Britain again so soon after the IRA peace talks."
Anonymous, via email

1138: "I'm sure whatever he says it will involve the use of the terms 'it is the right thing'. Still, at least he was more entertaining than the undertaker we currently have as PM."
John, London, via email

1135: The "sceptics outnumber the optimists", when it comes to setting up industrial parks in places such as Hebron and Jericho, Mr Blair says. But there is "no point just sitting around", he adds.

1133 "Is he [Mr Blair] the Middle East envoy as part of some kind of global service in the community project? I mean, if kids in our neighbourhood get caught spraying graffiti, they have to spend a few weekends in the area cleaning graffiti off walls."
Via email

1132: There is "frustration" at the effect of the Israeli blockade and the attitude of Hamas, Mr Blair tells the MPs.

1130: Mr Blair says "it's important to put both sides of the argument" in his current job.

1128:"My question is why have you allowed us to become another American state?"
Paul, Swindon, via email

1125: Mr Blair says tourist and hotel occupancy rates in Bethlehem are at a level seen before the Intifada started.

1123: The central issue is that, if Palestinian security capability cannot be built up, it is not possible to get Israel to lift the occupation, Mr Blair tells the MPs.

1121: The former PM says his position as an envoy for the "Quartet" of Russia, the UN, the US and the EU is not always "desperately formal" in terms of reporting his efforts.

1119: Mr Blair says he will "choose a moment that helps rather than a moment that harms" before visiting Gaza.

1117: Labour MP Jim Sheridan says there is a "big question" over Mr Blair's independence as an envoy. He replies that ordinary Palestinians say anyone who wants to help them has to have "some leverage" with Israel.

1115: The former prime minister says he is "not here to defend the blockade" by Israel. But he says the options "on the table for the Israeli government are very limited". People are "less likely to have an extreme view of the world" if they are allowed to come and study in the US and UK, he adds.

1111: Mr Blair says the prospect of involving Hamas in negotiations depends on how it deals with the situation. He adds: "At the moment people are very far apart."

1107: Mr Blair says most Israelis and Palestinians agree with a two-state solution to the conflict but that people do not feel like making compromises unless the situation "on the ground" improves on both sides.

1102: Mr Bruce asks about the situation in Gaza, to which the ex-prime minister replies that it is "terrible". He says the "humanitarian situation is dreadful".

1100: The session begins. Mr Bruce thanks Mr Blair for attending.

1045: Just 15 minutes to go. The select committee's chairman, Lib Dem MP Malcolm Bruce, is likely to ask the first question, with other members then taking their turns. The session is being held in the Thatcher Room.

0945: Only people - such as journalists and MPs and their staff - are going to be able to be in the room as the ex-PM gives his evidence. For security reasons, members of the public who could normally file into the committee room to watch will have to look at a specially erected big screen in a separate room. A big turnout is still expected. At Westminster, Mr Blair is what the entertainment industry calls "major box office".

0930: Mr Blair has been talking to the media ahead of his return to the Palace of Westminster. He told GMTV earlier that he was "100% supportive" of successor Gordon Brown, admitting that, given the global economic and security situation, it was "difficult for all leaders at the moment around the western world". In a precursor to his grilling by MPs on his Middle East role, he said it was his aim to help resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict "the way we did Northern Ireland". The select committee session begins at 1100.