Speeches by Kumaran.

“Do you think your due diligence and vetting process is fit for purpose, given what we are discussing?”

“I am trying to gather my thoughts, because there is a lot that is coming our way. In reference to my earlier question, you have just set out a number of vetting processes, but did none of them flag that a well-publicised friendship with the world’s most notorious paedophile might be a problem to the Government?”

“I have some follow-ups, though, to this.”

“I thank the Chair of the Committee for her statement and her recognition of the Committee’s members. On recommendation 6 on the reconstruction of Gaza, Gaza is still the most dangerous place in the world to be a child. Over 64,000 children are reported to have been killed or injured, and nearly the same number have los…”

“I thank the hon. Member for Twickenham (Munira Wilson) for securing such an important debate ahead of World Stroke Day. I send her mum our best wishes; I know how hard it is to speak about these personal issues in the House. A stroke happens every five minutes. That means that each year 100,000 people in Britain will h…”

“To build on the questions from Monica, the loan terms may not be favourable to you, but surely the Government giving the payment holiday demonstrates their willingness and desire for the British Council to continue. Do you agree that giving you a five-year holiday shows the previous and current Governments’ willingness…”

“I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend. Thrombectomy is highly effective and can transform recovery, massively reducing the chances of a disability. I hope that the Minister will respond to that point about care in my hon. Friend’s community. Recent statistics show that while in London more than 10% of patients receive…”

“We all welcome a ceasefire and the recognition of a Palestinian state, but we must now support the Palestinian people. The head of the United Nations humanitarian affairs team has said that driving through Gaza City is like “going through the ruins of Hiroshima”. The people of Gaza who have endured this hellish war and…”

“We have seen some of your work up close. For the record, your headquarters are in my constituency, in Stratford. Some of the Committee have seen your work on our recent visit to Romania, and we have seen the work you do on gender-based violence, supporting Ukrainian refugees and so on. It is a shame that you are not ma…”

“I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend, and thank him for having the statistics and always being a voice for Scotland. As we discussed, these inequalities have real-world consequences. Gaps in care and inequality in access jeopardise lives—in the most extreme cases they cost lives. While previous Governments have left …”

“We have heard today about your extensive art collection, and you also own a number of buildings. There is money in the bank for you to be able to repay at least part of that loan and move on. I am surprised that, in the five years from the loan to this point, different payment options have not been considered.”

“Does my hon. Friend have the statistics?”

“Thank you for a really fascinating session. Last year we heard evidence from the BBC World Service, including from the current BBC director general. He said, in relation to both Chinese and Russian state media buying up airwaves on which the BBC World Service had previously broadcast, that the world faces an “all-out a…”

“Do you think the UK Government should look again at TikTok in Britain?”

“You have been talking about information manipulation, and earlier we heard about a really alarming example from Myanmar. Would you say that TikTok is a method by which China could monitor UK users of its platform?”

“Thank you for a really fascinating session. Last year we heard evidence from the BBC World Service, including from the current BBC director general. He said, in relation to both Chinese and Russian state media buying up airwaves on which the BBC World Service had previously broadcast, that the world faces an “all-out a…”

“Do you think the UK Government should look again at TikTok in Britain?”

“You have been talking about information manipulation, and earlier we heard about a really alarming example from Myanmar. Would you say that TikTok is a method by which China could monitor UK users of its platform?”

“I thank my hon. Friend for giving way and for securing this debate, and I congratulate her on being one of the best-dressed Members of Parliament. [Laughter.] My constituency of Stratford and Bow is home to so much art and fashion in London, from Hackney Wick to Fish Island, where we have a fashion show this weekend at…”

“I am a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr Speaker. Our Committee has a proposal that we should have a greater role in scrutinising the appointment of the US ambassador, given that they are one of the highest ranking members of the diplomatic service, and to help the Government to avoid this situation in the fu…”