Extract from oral answer
Lords on Canada-UK Trade Deal
The Lord Bishop of Salisbury: My Lords, early this morning, I had
breakfast on Zoomhosted by my colleague the Bishop
of Sherborne, along with people from the Dorset churches and
community. A farmer and local businessman said that his greatest
fear for the future was uncertainty. How will this uncertainty be
ended so that he will not be left just watching this space but will
know what opportunities there are? How will the House assess these
both in relation to the economy and to the environment?
The Minister of State, Department for Business, Energy and
Industrial Strategy and Department for International Trade
() (Con): The right reverend Prelate
makes a good point. I assure him that these matters are at the
front of our mind. Uncertainty is being progressively eliminated.
I am looking forward to the time when there is no uncertainty
whatever.
Extract from
Westminster Hall debate on International Fund for
Israeli-Palestinian Peace
(St Helens North) (Lab):...This work is vital and
dangerous. Earlier this year Hamas arrested Rami Aman, a peace
activist in Gaza, and seven other Palestinians for taking part in
a Zoom call with Israelis. Hamas said that it
amounted to a
“betrayal of our people and their sacrifices”,
and that any joint activities, co-operation or dialogue with
Israelis is unacceptable—just because ordinary people wanted to
talk to each other about their lives. I am pleased that Rami Aman
was released from prison a few weeks ago, after spending six
months there awaiting trial. It is another example of how Hamas,
far from advancing the cause of Palestine, is through its
violence and intransigence, hindering it...
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign,
Commonwealth and Development Affairs (): It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship,
Mr Efford, and a pleasure to be back here in Westminster Hall. Life
can be a bit soulless when sitting in an office or a back bedroom
making Zoom calls and so forth. This debate has
demonstrated the value of physically being in the House. Perhaps
you will thank the Speaker for facilitating that. I think all hon.
Members would approve of extending that...
