Speeches by Kumar.

“How many people are contacting you who feel they are experiencing an unfair price?”

“Ms Pardoe, are some groups more vulnerable than others to being ripped off by dynamic pricing? Who are the most vulnerable in society?”

“When will the China audit be completed?”

“We know that SMEs do fantastic work in the UK. What initiatives or grants can you provide for our SMEs in the UK to trade in the EU?”

“We do fantastic work in relation to Scottish whisky, and we want to capitalise on that. Are there any other UK sectors in which we could be replicating that success and transporting it to the EU?”

“The EU has already passed significant new product regulations since Brexit, for example, on artificial intelligence. Is the Bill essentially a keeping-pace mechanism?”

“The US, Canada and the EU have all increased tariffs on electric vehicles from China. Why have you not asked the Trade Remedies Authority to investigate whether the UK needs to defend its economic interest in this industry?”

“My constituency has a proud industrial heritage, with manufacturing still worth £1 billion a year to the local economy from sectors that account for nearly 10% of the UK’s total economic output. What steps have the Government taken to promote the growth of the manufacturing sector and ensure that towns like Dudley cont…”

“I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Stroud (Dr Opher) for securing this important debate. The growing prevalence of obesity is a public emergency. It is profoundly affecting not only individuals’ lives, but the economic and social fabric of our nation. Let me clearly state that this is not a debate about willpower or…”

“I welcome the news of a ceasefire deal after 15 months of devastation, destruction and loss of life. The release of hostages is vital, ensuring their safety and swift return to their families. There has been unimaginable suffering, and the ceasefire must be a turning point. It is imperative that the UK leverages our di…”

“Do you think that SMEs in particular may struggle with the implementation of the Bill?”

“What has been the resolution for this? When someone has complained saying, “I have childcare. I have now paid X for a child minder, I have paid travel, and everything has now been cancelled or I have been told last minute, and now the train fees are expensive so I have to pay an extortionate amount,” what has been the …”

“I agree with my hon. Friend. The contractors need to look at what they are doing in the town centres and where that money is going—back into the economy, local businesses and to residents. The future of the high street relies on the ability to adapt and offer a range of experiences that draw people in—not just through …”

“I agree with my hon. Friend, because town centre accessibility is really quite difficult. We do not have a tram system or any local trains; we only have a bus service, which can be ad hoc at times. Consequently, I welcome the new consultation period that Richard Parker, our Labour mayor, has suggested. This is not the …”

“An hour’s free parking is one of the proposals that I have put forward to the leader of my local council. If somebody wants to grab a coffee in the town centre, they do not want to pay a parking charge, then get their coffee and leave. That is only driving business out. As I was saying, Bruno and a number of traders ar…”

“Yes, I do, and a long-standing trader in my constituency, Christine Bosworth, also agrees. She has been operating for the last 13 years in a craft shop and she shared with me some really poignant points that I would like to share. Christine said that there has been a really big drop in footfall in the constituency and …”

“I agree 100% with my hon. Friend, whose opinions I really respect. Parking charges have become a cash cow. It is absolutely absurd that councils across the country, including Dudley council, have implemented them. We need to think about how to drive footfall, not reduce it, in our town centres. I feel like we are robbi…”

“I agree with the hon. Gentleman—I will call him my hon. Friend. Extending parking discounts beyond an hour would mean that people who want to get a coffee are not charged £1.80 for one hour’s parking, which is what has been implemented in my constituency. They would spend more time in the town centre, and that would in…”

“I beg to move, That this House has considered the matter of parking in town centres. It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Ms Furniss. I rise to voice concerns about increased parking fees. Local authorities across the country are trying to claw their way out of financial difficulties by increasing parking…”

“You have had 80 complaints about this and—”