Speeches by Whittingdale.

“I wanted to come in on the question about drug production in particular.”

“The Minister is entirely right—it is useless. The problem, therefore, is that there is no workable solution at the moment. The Minister and the Government have said that they will not introduce this option until there is a workable system in existence. That is reassuring, but how will the Minister decide whether a prop…”

“Amnon, could you build on what Shahira has said about the work to achieve equality? How do you think that will help to resolve the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians?”

“I am extremely grateful to the Minister, and it is of some reassurance that the Government’s mind is still open. I hope they will listen to the voices across the Chamber expressing concern. There is an objection in principle to option 3, which is the idea that rights holders have to opt out. It reverses what has long b…”

“It is a pleasure to take part in this debate and indeed to echo what has been said by many Members on both sides of the House. I think this debate will produce pretty much unanimity on the importance of our creative industries. It is a particular pleasure to follow my hon. Friend the Member for Gosport (Dame Caroline D…”

“Alon-Lee referred to Israeli public opinion, where this is still a majority that appear to want a peaceful settlement. Robi, your organisation has been harshly criticised by the Israeli Government, who have claimed that you are equating people who have died as a result of terrorism with people who have died supporting …”

“Both your organisations are seeking to bring together Israelis and Palestinians, but on both sides there must have been a degree of further polarisation. The Israelis witnessed the horror of what happened on 7 October, and Palestinians have seen huge numbers of casualties killed in Gaza. To what extent has your task ha…”

“But there appears to have been a polarisation taking place. We heard in our previous panel about the work of the Parents Circle-Families Forum and the opposition that they had encountered from the Israeli Government towards the work that they were doing in schools. To what extent do you think that the Israeli Governmen…”

“Of course.”

“But there appears to have been a polarisation taking place. We heard in our previous panel about the work of the Parents Circle-Families Forum and the opposition that they had encountered from the Israeli Government towards the work that they were doing in schools. To what extent do you think that the Israeli Governmen…”

“Of course.”

“Amnon, could you build on what Shahira has said about the work to achieve equality? How do you think that will help to resolve the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians?”

“Alon-Lee referred to Israeli public opinion, where this is still a majority that appear to want a peaceful settlement. Robi, your organisation has been harshly criticised by the Israeli Government, who have claimed that you are equating people who have died as a result of terrorism with people who have died supporting …”

“Both your organisations are seeking to bring together Israelis and Palestinians, but on both sides there must have been a degree of further polarisation. The Israelis witnessed the horror of what happened on 7 October, and Palestinians have seen huge numbers of casualties killed in Gaza. To what extent has your task ha…”

“Trying to encourage students to come to British universities and to foster collaboration is perfectly worthy. It is about projects that are not specifically related to the UK and on which you are spending money at a time when you are under huge financial pressure. I wonder whether in some of the areas you could not act…”

“I have one last quick question, which is a personal one, because when I was in government, I was responsible, along with my colleagues, for establishing the cultural protection fund, which we were extremely proud of and which the British Council administers. I think it does a very important job, but given the financial…”

“I am not quite sure why countries where democracy is well established—I do not want to talk specifically about Latvia, but I am thinking particularly of member states of the EU—should be a priority for us. They share western values, have democratic Governments and are reasonably well resourced. There are plenty of coun…”

“When you talked about the British Council’s programme, you referred specifically to the EU and the Baltic nations. I visited the British Council office in Latvia, and people there talked about their programme of supporting, I think, 40 projects. To give you an example from the website, that includes work to “develop so…”

“They are now considering it.”

“You referred to the fact that the reference to material uncertainty over the future of the British Council is because of the loan, and each year you have to go to the Foreign Office and get agreement, which you get at only the last minute. That cannot be a satisfactory situation. Would it not be much better for the For…”