Speeches by Western.

“I understand, but in the absence of any journalists, or any media, being allowed in Gaza—media reporters are not even allowed to film when they are dropping humanitarian aid into Gaza—there is a complete absence of information. It just strikes me as strange, in that there would be data that is available from surveillan…”

“You may not ask them specifically to do that, but in terms of the information recorded—I am not familiar with how RAF surveillance flights work—I can imagine that they are recording data on an urban landscape across Gaza as they are flying. Then from that data, you would be able to ascertain the amount of damage and th…”

“So with the surveillance flights, we do not actually keep data; we do not record anything about the amount of destruction of any part of Gaza during those flights.”

“I understand. Minister Pollard, do you have an estimate for the number of sorties that have been undertaken by F-35s? What information do the Government have on targeting and the ordnance used by the Israeli F-35?”

“It could be used in the west bank?”

“I understand that. It just seems that it is almost an academic argument, given that there is no need to be using it. I guess that is my simple point. If you say, Mr Falconer, that it has been used, and you gave a date when you believe it was used, what is the likelihood—what are the chances—of it being used again in Ga…”

“Experts tell us that the F-35 is not actually the most appropriate vehicle of force in the aerospace to be using for this kind on conflict—that the F-15 is a far better vehicle. Why are we even allowing the F-35—that is, we have talked about the trade permissions—because it is actually not the most appropriate?”

“Experts tell us that it is really not the most appropriate vehicle of force for use in Gaza—that the F-15 is more appropriate. Why do we think it should be permissible for them to use it anyway?”

“So, Qatar?”

“In that case, perhaps I could ask Ministers Falconer or Bryant, on what basis have the Government identified that there is a clear risk that the export of F-35 components would cause serious IHL violations? I appreciate that goes back slightly to where we have been before, but clearly—”

“Okay. Can your Department confirm whether Israel has been using the F-35 in Gaza?”

“So these flights are identifying the locations of hostages?”

“Total number, then?”

“How frequent are they?”

“Minister Pollard, what is your understanding of the purpose of the RAF surveillance flights?”

“Mr Bryant, is it possible to have a breakdown of that £128 million—not now, obviously, but subsequently?”

“But it is a striking statistic: £128 million-worth of exports for military equipment in a three-month period, which is greater than the three-and-a-half-year period that preceded it.”

“Let me expand on that, because I find it difficult to get my head around a statistic that Amnesty UK fed in, from a report by Campaign Against Arms Trade. They calculated that the UK approved licences for £128 million-worth of military equipment to Israel in single-use licences between October and December 2024, which …”

“I should have congratulated my hon. Friend at the very beginning on his appointment—a very warm welcome, Minister, to the role. He talks about dynamic pricing and ticketing. He will probably be aware that in the Business and Trade Committee we looked at Ticketmaster and Live Nation. The Opposition spokesperson, the hon…”

“I beg to move, That this House has considered consumer affairs. It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Dame Siobhain. You will be familiar with the expression “knowing the price of everything, but the value of nothing”. Perhaps that was yesteryear, or possibly yesterday, but today I want to say this. UK consum…”