argyrotsipi/train-dataset huggingface dataset:
Covid-19: Economic Support — House of Commons, 2020-07-07
Topic: Social Welfare
Rishi Sunak (Conservative, Centre-right): Everyone in this country has benefited one way or another from what we have been able to do. Although people have not been able to be helped in exactly the way they would have liked, we have been able to put in place measures unprecedented in scale and speed, and that meant we did have to make some difficult decisions to implement those policies. None the less, I do believe that, because of the measures that we have taken to strengthen our safety net, for example, everyone, no matter where they are, has access to more support than they did before this crisis began.
Covid-19: Economic Support — House of Commons, 2020-07-07
Topic: Labor
Rishi Sunak (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Lady talks about scale of ambition. I am proud of what this Government have put in place and the speed at which we have done so. The jobs of 9 million people have been protected through our furlough scheme; 2.7 million self-employed people have had their income supported; and millions of companies have received access to loans, grants, tax deferrals. In sum, this represents £130 billion of support—one of the most comprehensive and generous support packages available of any country anywhere in the world.
Investment and Economic Growth: Northern Lincolnshire — House of Commons, 2020-07-07
Topic: Macroeconomics
Olukemi Olufunto Badenoch (Conservative, Centre-right): We recognise every region and community is impacted by this crisis. That is why the Government have announced unprecedented support for businesses and workers around the country. That includes 95 million to fund shovel-ready projects across the east midlands to help to provide a boost to the local economy and create jobs, building on over £120 million of local growth funding for Greater Lincolnshire for local projects such as Lincolnshire Lakes housing scheme.
Investment and Economic Growth: Northern Lincolnshire — House of Commons, 2020-07-07
Topic: Energy
Martin John Vickers (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank the Minister for that. The Treasury is giving considerable support to our area, such as through the Greater Grimsby town deal. We are hoping for favourable designation for freeport status, but the most pressing case at the moment is support for the Able marine energy park in northern Lincolnshire. Modest support from the Treasury could help to create 2,000 jobs. Will the Minister, or indeed the Chancellor, agree to meet me and my hon. Friends the Members for Great Grimsby (Lia Nici), for Brigg and Goole (Andrew Percy) and for Scunthorpe (Holly Mumby-Croft) to deal with this?
Investment and Economic Growth: Northern Lincolnshire — House of Commons, 2020-07-07
Topic: Energy
Olukemi Olufunto Badenoch (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend rightly champions the strength of his local area as we move to restart the economy and make progress to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Our renewable energy ambitions will continue to create opportunities at manufacturing centres, such as the Able marine energy park proposal, but I encourage him first to engage with my colleagues from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, as the lead Department on energy and industrial strategy.
Local Transport Infrastructure — House of Commons, 2020-07-07
Topic: Transportation
Stephen Paul Barclay (Conservative, Centre-right): Upgrading local transport links is a key part of this Government’s commitment to levelling up across the country. That is why we announced at the Budget £500 million for the potholes fund; £4.2 billion has been announced for discussion with the eight devolved Mayors; and there is a further £2 billion across this Parliament for boosting cycling and walking.
Local Transport Infrastructure — House of Commons, 2020-07-07
Topic: Transportation
Scott Lloyd Benton (Conservative, Centre-right): Reinstating a passing loop on to the south Fylde rail line will help to double the number of trains travelling into Blackpool South every single day, bringing additional tourists into Blackpool and helping to create new jobs, investments and opportunities. Does my right hon. Friend agree that delivering these local transport infrastructure projects is vital for furthering economic growth, assisting our recovery from covid-19 and delivering much-needed investment into Blackpool, a part of the world that I know he is very familiar with?
Local Transport Infrastructure — House of Commons, 2020-07-07
Topic: Transportation
Stephen Paul Barclay (Conservative, Centre-right): It is a key part of this Government’s commitment to improve transport links such as that. I know that my hon. Friend has submitted a proposal, which the Department for Transport is considering. Having been able to hear the trains on that line from my kitchen growing up, it is one that I take a particular interest in, and I know that it is a very strong scheme.
Coronavirus: Employment — House of Commons, 2020-07-07
Topic: Labor
Rishi Sunak (Conservative, Centre-right): Through the coronavirus job retention scheme and the self-employment income support scheme, the Government have protected 9.4 million jobs and supported the incomes of 2.7 million self-employed. I remain committed to helping the unemployed return to work and supporting those who are most vulnerable to job loss. We will continue to monitor economic conditions to ensure our labour market policy response is both appropriate and effective.
Coronavirus: Employment — House of Commons, 2020-07-07
Topic: Labor
Rishi Sunak (Conservative, Centre-right): Some 95% of those who are majority self-employed are able to benefit from the self-employment scheme. In its design, its duration, the breadth of its coverage and the generosity of its support, the scheme remains the most generous and comprehensive self-employment support scheme in the world.
Coronavirus: Employment — House of Commons, 2020-07-07
Topic: Environment
Rishi Sunak (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Lady mentioned plans from other countries. It is worth bearing in mind that those plans relate to spending commitments over many years and are actually better compared with what we outlined at Budget, where we set out a £600 billion investment programme over the remainder of this Parliament, including many initiatives such as carbon capture and storage, the nature for climate fund and improvements in air quality. Conservative Members wholeheartedly believe in a green revolution, and we will provide the capital to make that happen.
Coronavirus: Employment — House of Commons, 2020-07-07
Topic: Macroeconomics
Lee Anderson (Conservative, Centre-right): I pay tribute to all the small business owners in Ashfield and Eastwood who have worked really hard to get ready for the reopening of their businesses last weekend in a covid-secure manner—places such as the world-famous Diamond Club, the Dog and Parrot, the Bus Stop Café, St Joseph’s Social Club and the outstanding Teversal Camping and Caravanning Club site. Although I am grateful to the Chancellor for all the financial support he has provided, does he agree that the only way to protect jobs and businesses in the long term is by safely reopening the economy?
Coronavirus: Employment — House of Commons, 2020-07-07
Topic: Macroeconomics
Rishi Sunak (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend is absolutely right. No support scheme can substitute for safely reopening our economy. I enjoyed seeing his Facebook page with his tour of Sutton, Eastwood and Huthwaite, and all the establishments that he mentioned—including a candle shop, I believe—and I pay tribute to all his local businesses for following the guidance and implementing safe measures so that they can welcome their local communities back with open arms.
Coronavirus: Employment — House of Commons, 2020-07-07
Topic: Labor
Aaron Stuart Bell (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank the Chancellor for all he has done so far, and I look forward to his statement tomorrow. He mentioned unemployment, and we are aware that it is rising, so one of the most important things we can do is to get people back into work as quickly as possible. In Newcastle-under-Lyme we are benefiting from the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire local enterprise partnership redundancy and recruitment triage service. Will he welcome that? There are areas where employment is growing, and if we can get people who have been made redundant into those jobs as quickly as possible, we will minimise the devastating effects of this coronavirus.
Coronavirus: Employment — House of Commons, 2020-07-07
Topic: Labor
Rishi Sunak (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend is absolutely right. The importance of job matching is critical and the evidence shows us that it works. I know from my time as a Local Government Minister the innovative approach that Councillor Atkins and his team on the county council and the LEP have taken to various economic initiatives. I pay tribute to them for putting this in place with such speed.
Coronavirus: Employment — House of Commons, 2020-07-07
Topic: Transportation
Rishi Sunak (Conservative, Centre-right): The interventions in France and Germany related to specific companies, so it obviously would not be appropriate for me to comment on those in this place at this time. The support put in place in the US was primarily to support domestic connectivity. This Government have done that by subsidising considerably our bus network and our rail network to make sure that intra-Union connectivity remains through this crisis.
Coronavirus: Employment — House of Commons, 2020-07-07
Topic: Macroeconomics
Rishi Sunak (Conservative, Centre-right): The most important thing for all these sectors is for them to be safely reopened. That is why I am delighted that last weekend we were able to meet the target set out in our reopening plan. The Prime Minister has spoken about reopening our remaining closed sectors in the coming weeks, which is welcome news. The hon. Lady is right that these sectors have faced hardship. That is why, as I said, they have received considerable extra support from the Government in the form of business rates holidays and cash grants.
Coronavirus: Employment — House of Commons, 2020-07-07
Topic: Labor
Rishi Sunak (Conservative, Centre-right): Those who call for a sector-specific approach are not always able to articulate exactly how they would define those sectors and also the supply chain that they serve. The most important thing is to have provided broad, generous and swift coverage to protect 9 million jobs, as this Government have done, and now to reopen these sectors so that we can get as many of those people back to work as quickly as possible to the jobs that they have.
Green Bond — House of Commons, 2020-07-07
Topic: Energy
John Philip Glen (Conservative, Centre-right): The Government have been carefully considering the potential issuance of a UK sovereign green bond. At present, we have no plans to do that, but we continue to monitor the case for one, and we will keep it under urgent review.
Green Bond — House of Commons, 2020-07-07
Topic: Macroeconomics
John Philip Glen (Conservative, Centre-right): Clearly, debt and the handling of it is a significant challenge for the Government at this time. The core gilt programme is the most stable and cost-effective way of dealing with our financing needs. The hon. Gentleman makes a reasonable point. We will continue to look constructively at all options and at the changing environment as a consequence of this crisis.
Covid-19: Support for Scotland — House of Commons, 2020-07-07
Topic: Labor
Stephen Paul Barclay (Conservative, Centre-right): The UK Government’s response to covid-19 has been UK-wide. More than 750,000 people in Scotland have benefited from the job retention scheme and the self-employed income support scheme, and Scotland has received £3.8 billion of Barnett consequentials.
Covid-19: Support for Scotland — House of Commons, 2020-07-07
Topic: Energy
Andrew Campbell Bowie (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank my right hon. Friend for that answer. It shows the benefits of being in the most successful political and economic Union in the history of the world. What support are the Government thinking about giving to the oil and gas sector, which is struggling from the dual blows of record low oil and gas prices and the covid-19 pandemic?
Covid-19: Support for Scotland — House of Commons, 2020-07-07
Topic: Energy
Stephen Paul Barclay (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend is right to identify the benefit of pooling through the UK approach, and the specific issues relating to the oil and gas industry. That is why industry leaders met the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on 11 June. Work is ongoing, particularly in relation to what support can be provided to the sector. We are very mindful of its significance to the economy of Scotland.
Covid-19: Support for Local Authorities — House of Commons, 2020-07-07
Topic: Government Operations
Stephen Paul Barclay (Conservative, Centre-right): Last week, the Government announced a comprehensive package to support councils in responding to the pressures caused by covid-19. We have now provided more than £3.7 billion of additional grant funding for councils, and announced a major new scheme to reimburse them for their lost income.
Covid-19: Support for Local Authorities — House of Commons, 2020-07-07
Topic: Government Operations
Gareth Andrew Bacon (Conservative, Centre-right): Fears have been expressed that the Government will fully bail out financially poorly managed local authorities, while better managed local authorities, such as the London Borough of Bromley, may have to meet covid-19 shortfalls through their reserves. Will my right hon. Friend offer reassurances on that point? If covid-19 funding shortfalls remain, will he consider allowing a capitalisation directive to enable councils to fund one-off shortfalls through capital receipts or borrowing?
Covid-19: Support for Local Authorities — House of Commons, 2020-07-07
Topic: Macroeconomics
Stephen Paul Barclay (Conservative, Centre-right): We have always taken the approach that borrowing is allowed for infrastructure and capital projects, but not day-to-day revenue. That policy will continue. At the same time, all councils have received support, and £16 million has been allocated to Bromley. It is right that the support addresses councils’ varied needs, and that is very much the approach that we have taken.
Covid-19: Four-day Working Week — House of Commons, 2020-07-07
Topic: Macroeconomics
Olukemi Olufunto Badenoch (Conservative, Centre-right): The Prime Minister recently set out the first steps of the Government’s strategy to rebuild and fuel economic recovery in response to covid-19. The Government believe the best way to secure a recovery is to invest across the UK to level up, while ensuring that we create the conditions for private enterprise to flourish.
Covid-19: Four-day Working Week — House of Commons, 2020-07-07
Topic: Labor
Olukemi Olufunto Badenoch (Conservative, Centre-right): The Government believe that the best way of dealing with these issues is for workers to look at existing options available for flexible working and discuss them directly with their employers, rather than the Government legislating for the entire UK work- force. However, I am happy to meet the hon. Gentleman to discuss this topic further, if he would like.
Covid-19: High Street Businesses — House of Commons, 2020-07-07
Topic: Macroeconomics
Alexander Jesse Norman (Conservative, Centre-right): I am delighted to hear about Rooms, and many businesses in my constituency have reopened. Reopening the economy is the central step we need for our national recovery. As my hon. Friend will know, we have committed to a fundamental review of the business rates systems and published some comprehensive terms of reference for the review at the spring Budget. In the meantime, we are committed to supporting businesses and have taken actions to reduce the burden of rates, which will save businesses more than £13 billion in the next five years.
Covid-19: High Street Businesses — House of Commons, 2020-07-07
Topic: Government Operations
Karl McCartney (Conservative, Centre-right): It is no secret that Chancellors have an overarching influence across all Departments. Within my Lincoln constituency’s county of Greater Lincolnshire we are faced with major local government reorganisation. Does the Treasury take the view that for the UK’s second largest county a single unitary authority would be in the best financial interests of my constituents when enforcing forthcoming local government reform and devolution?
Covid-19: High Street Businesses — House of Commons, 2020-07-07
Topic: Government Operations
Alexander Jesse Norman (Conservative, Centre-right): It would be wrong for me, as a Minister, to offer a view on this, but I can tell my hon. Friend that my personal experience has been that the more streamlined, the clearer the lines of authority and the more integrated and shared approach that is taken, the more effective the infrastructure delivery is likely to be.
Covid-19: Charity Sector — House of Commons, 2020-07-07
Topic: Social Welfare
Olukemi Olufunto Badenoch (Conservative, Centre-right): Alongside unprecedented support for individuals and businesses in the light of the covid-19 outbreak, the Government have announced a £750 million support package for charities, £360 million of which will be allocated directly to charities providing essential services and £200 million will go to local charities through the National Lottery Community Fund.
Covid-19: Charity Sector — House of Commons, 2020-07-07
Topic: Social Welfare
Olukemi Olufunto Badenoch (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend is right to highlight the extraordinary innovations of charities in Stoke-on-Trent and across the country. We have seen innovation and adaptation right across the economy, made possible in part by the unprecedented level of support that we have been referring to during this session. As of the end of last week, £230 million had been disbursed from the Government’s charity support fund.
Support for Hospitality, Tourism and Entertainment — House of Commons, 2020-07-07
Topic: Macroeconomics
Olukemi Olufunto Badenoch (Conservative, Centre-right): The Treasury is working extensively with employers, taskforces and industry groups to understand the long-term effects of covid-19 across all key areas of the economy, including the artistic, creative, tourism and hospitality sectors. We will continue to monitor the impact of Government support on the economy.
Support for Hospitality, Tourism and Entertainment — House of Commons, 2020-07-07
Topic: Macroeconomics
Olukemi Olufunto Badenoch (Conservative, Centre-right): As ever, all taxes are kept under review, and changes are announced at fiscal events. My hon. Friend will be pleased to know that admissions to cultural venues, for example, are already exempt from VAT if they are provided by a local authority or an eligible body, such as a charity. We will continue to review the situation.
School Funding — House of Commons, 2020-07-07
Topic: Education
Stephen Paul Barclay (Conservative, Centre-right): I regularly meet the Secretary of State for Education to discuss school funding. We are providing a £1 billion package to help students catch up on lost learning, and that sits alongside the £100 million to boost remote education and the additional £7.1 billion of core funding for schools that we announced at the 2019 spending round.
School Funding — House of Commons, 2020-07-07
Topic: Education
Jonathan Edward Gullis (Conservative, Centre-right): I know that my right hon. Friend enjoyed his time in Stoke-on-Trent during winter last year, but he will also know that, sadly, the area of Stoke-on-Trent, Kidsgrove and Talke is ranked in the bottom 20% of the social mobility index. Sadly, we are also well below the national averages in both young and old taking up courses at levels 3 and 4. Will he set out the steps that the Department is taking to support further education? Does he agree that post-16 providers, such as Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College, play a vital role in levelling up opportunity and upskilling and retraining both young and old, enabling them to be better off than those before them?
School Funding — House of Commons, 2020-07-07
Topic: Education
Stephen Paul Barclay (Conservative, Centre-right): As a former teacher, my hon. Friend speaks with great authority on such issues. I absolutely agree that a strong post-16 education system is vital to our recovery. That is why we have applied a range of flexibilities to the usual funding arrangements, and the Department for Education has set out further details.
Innovative and Fast-growing Firms — House of Commons, 2020-07-07
Topic: Labor
Jane Fiona Catherine Stevenson (Conservative, Centre-right): Unemployment in Wolverhampton North East was three times the national average as we came into the pandemic, and many businesses have expressed their gratitude for the wide range of support. As we emerge from the pandemic, can my hon. Friend reassure me that this will be the party that champions innovators, start-ups and SMEs, so that we can get job opportunities and more prosperity in seats such as Wolverhampton North East?
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2020-07-07
Topic: Macroeconomics
Rishi Sunak (Conservative, Centre-right): Four months on from the onset of coronavirus, we have slowly and carefully reopened much of our economy, and we can now begin our national recovery. Throughout this crisis, I have repeatedly made it clear that, while we cannot protect every single job, we will do all we can to make sure our businesses and people have the tools they need to get through this and emerge stronger on the other side.
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2020-07-07
Topic: Macroeconomics
Laura Rose Farris (Conservative, Centre-right): From a health perspective covid-19 disproportionately affected the old, but from an economic perspective the risks are greatest for the young, in terms of both lost employment opportunities and potentially a future higher tax burden. What reassurances can my right hon. Friend give that the economic prospects of young people will be his priority in the future recovery?
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2020-07-07
Topic: Labor
Rishi Sunak (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend is absolutely right: young people are more likely than not to work in affected sectors and more likely than others to be furloughed, and we know from all the evidence that the impact of scarring on young people is very significant, which is why they remain uppermost in my mind. I give my hon. Friend the reassurance that they will be prioritised as we think about our recovery and our labour-market interventions.
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2020-07-07
Topic: Macroeconomics
Alexander Jesse Norman (Conservative, Centre-right): As the hon. Lady will know, the Treasury is in constant communication with the FCA on these and other issues. If she would like to bring the specific details to my attention, I will make sure that they are examined by Ministers.
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2020-07-07
Topic: Transportation
Douglas Gordon Ross (Conservative, Centre-right): Our coach industry will be vital as the country opens up and we begin our recovery from covid-19. Local Moray firm Maynes of Buckie, and its owner Kevin Mayne, have been leading calls for a bespoke deal to support the coach industry. Will the Treasury look at that idea and consider it?
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2020-07-07
Topic: Macroeconomics
Alexander Jesse Norman (Conservative, Centre-right): I am sure my hon. Friend understands that the desire for bespoke deals across every sector is extremely great. Our view has been that what is required is to lift all boats by a general support for the economy, and that is the approach we have taken, which is why the interventions we have made so far include almost £300 billion of guarantees—worth roughly 15% of UK gross domestic product.