Speeches by Ballinger.

“How have the Governments responded to the intervention?”

“How have regional countries such as Brazil, Colombia and Cuba responded to the intervention?”

“The Prime Minister will know that many excellent west midlands businesses export to China, including great car makers such as Jaguar Land Rover, the Morgan Motor Company and Aston Martin. Collectively, those car exports are worth more than those from any other region in the UK, I would say. Can the Prime Minister outli…”

“Mr Doyle?”

“Several of you mentioned the need for accountability, with Israel’s military activity in Lebanon and Syria going across several lines. What do you think the UK should be doing to ensure that accountability? What should we as a Committee be recommending to Ministers?”

“Sorry, I think that we might have to move on, but I have one more question before we do. How are the strikes, the killing of civilians and the five outposts inside Lebanese territory compatible with UN Security Council resolution 1701 and with international law? I see that Mr Doyle has his hand up.”

“Yes, 127 is the number of civilians who have been killed, according to the UN.”

“Who would that military operation be against? Because, of course, Hezbollah has been weakened intensely after 2024’s attack. I don’t know the situation there. Are Hezbollah rearming; are they planning other things? Is that a fair reflection—or what is the situation?”

“Sorry, the mission is maintaining stability in—”

“Mr Levy, you mentioned the importance of strengthening the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. How would you assess its stability at the moment, considering the frequent violations that Mr Doyle mentioned?”

“I do not have the statistics in front of me, but the right hon. Gentleman will know that the overwhelming number of prosecutions that have happened in Northern Ireland have been of paramilitaries and terrorist groups. Only one serviceperson has been convicted since 2010, and that was on a suspended sentence. I am afrai…”

“I will give way one more time, but then I must make progress.”

“My hon. Friend is right. It is important for everyone involved, including the many veterans concerned about the situation in Northern Ireland, that we end this legal wild west. The defective Act that led to more litigation, uncertainty and distress for victims and those who served on Op Banner should end.”

“I am a veteran, and I speak to many veterans, and I think the right hon. Gentleman will agree that there are range of views on the issue. Those of us who served, in whichever service, did so to uphold the rule of law. It is beholden on us and those who served that if they are upholding the rule of law, they are account…”

“I am happy to speak in support of the motion as set out on the Order Paper. The wider context is straightforward: the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 passed by the Conservatives attempted to replace long-standing legal routes with a new commission, ICRIR, and a conditional immunity scheme…”

“I am grateful to have the opportunity to gently correct the hon. and gallant Gentleman. When asked that question a few weeks ago, the Prime Minister said categorically that we would not allow Gerry Adams to claim compensation. There are several civil cases that would be blocked, supporting the victims of IRA terrorism,…”

“It is great to hear that you consulted with line Ministries, the European Commission and other countries. Was there much engagement with civil society in Germany, maybe the automotive sector and these parts of the country that are outside the Government structures that have an interest in China?”

“I think waiting a bit longer might suit this debate well, because of the timing of the inquiry that we are running with the APPG. I do not know how long your waiting list is, but if it takes us into late March, that might not be the end of the world.”

“Thank you, Chair. I will wait for my colleague to sit down—we work better in pairs. We would like a debate on gambling advertising. Members of the Committee have probably heard other debates on gambling in which the harms associated with gambling have been well outlined. Some 2.7% of the population—close to 1.5 million…”

“In answer to the intervention by the hon. Member for Spelthorne (Lincoln Jopp), there is more than one veteran on the Labour Benches. I wonder what the veterans from the Conservative party who went through 11 rounds of negotiations under the previous Government were saying; they clearly supported this decision at that …”