Speeches by Whittingdale.

“Dr Khatib, do you have anything to add?”

“What a terrible accusation.”

“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…”

“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…”

“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 …”

“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?”

“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…”

“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…”

“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…”

“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.”

“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…”

“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 …”

“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?”

“Of course.”

“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…”

“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…”

“Your definition of self-sustaining is that the British Council will continue to receive perhaps around 15% of its budget from a grant from the Foreign Office?”

“This morning the Prime Minister spoke about the Government’s wish to develop a clear and trusted copyright regime, which is, I believe, what many in the creative industries thought we already had. When the Secretary of State comes to consider Matt Clifford’s recommendation for reform of the text and data mining regime,…”

“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…”