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Discourses on the zero quotas (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

orations

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'discourses' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both related to communication as well as being plural nouns.
Maybe you can see an association between them that I don't see?

'on the zero quotas' is the wordplay.
'on' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'the zero' becomes 'O' (O resembles 0).
'quotas' becomes 'rations' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'o' next to 'rations' is 'ORATIONS'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for orations that I've seen before include "Public declamatory speeches" , "Addresses" , "Formal speeches, often at funerals" , "Elaborate formal speeches" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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