argyrotsipi/train-dataset huggingface dataset:
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2020-06-18
Topic: Agriculture
Christopher John Bryant (Labour, Centre-left): Can I ask about Welsh lamb? Every time I ask the Government about this, they always say to me, "Oh yes, it is all very worrying. We don’t know where it is going to go. It is very important that we make sure that there are no tariffs on Welsh lamb going into Europe." It is important, because 50% of Welsh lamb is eaten in the UK and the rest goes to Europe. It does not go to any other markets, pretty much, around the world, so we have to get a zero tariff on Welsh lamb. Can the Secretary of State guarantee that, please?
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2020-06-18
Topic: Foreign Trade
Alexandra Mary Davies-Jones (Labour, Centre-left): The Minister mentioned that she is talking to Welsh sheep farmers later today, but what discussions has she recently had with the Welsh Labour Government on the potential effect of any free trade agreements on the economy in Wales, particularly in relation to the devolved responsibilities?
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2020-06-18
Topic: Law and Crime
Rupa Asha Huq (Labour, Centre-left): The use of bullets, tear gas and batons on innocent protesters has, as the Secretary of State acknowledged, shocked the world in the aftermath of the brutal killing of George Floyd, so can she tell us whether her Department has authorised the export of any of the above in the past 12 months?
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2020-06-18
Topic: International Affairs
Deborah Angela Elspeth Marie Abrahams (Labour, Centre-left): Complacency from the Government, and indeed from the international community as a whole, over human rights violations in Kashmir has contributed to the crisis that is unfolding at the line of actual control. The Indian and Chinese armies are now toe to toe, and there has been a Mexican stand-off between Pakistan and India since last August. I do not need to remind anybody that these are three nuclear powers. What economic and other levers is the Secretary of State using to resolve this crisis? Will she urge the Prime Minister to call for a UN Security Council meeting to avert a global disaster?
DFID-FCO Merger — House of Commons, 2020-06-18
Topic: International Affairs
Stephen John Doughty (Labour, Centre-left): I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Rotherham (Sarah Champion) for her important urgent question "The effectiveness with which DFID is able to deliver aid is because the Department has decades of honed experience in understanding the most effective and targeted ways of spending taxpayers’ money"—[Official Report, 10 June 2020; Vol. 677, c. 276.] —not my words, but those of the Secretary of State for International Development, last week, who now appears to have simply been completely overruled Scrapping a Department that is crucial to global vaccine development provides health care and aids the world’s poorest in the middle of a global pandemic is irresponsible and counterproductive and wrong. The Government should be totally focused on steering our country through the challenges we face right now. We have had one of the highest death tolls from covid-19 in the world. Millions of children are out of school and face the worst unemployment crisis in a generation, which will hit young people and the lowest-paid the hardest; and these challenges are global too Instead, the Prime Minister has decided to undertake a large-scale restructure, which will cost millions of pounds of public money, and he will abolish a Department that is the most transparent, the most effective and a global champion at delivering value for money for British taxpayers. Instead, UK aid will be spent through Departments, which, TaxPayers Alliance found, "neither" contribute "to poverty reduction or the national interest." So can the Foreign Secretary tell me: when did the Prime Minister decide this matter? Why did he not wait for the conclusion of the integrated review? Did the decision go through the National Security Council? Which civil society and development partners were consulted? How much will the reorganisation cost and what legislative changes are planned? Will the DFID budget be ring-fenced in the new Department The Foreign Secretary also mentioned trade envoys. What role now for the Department for International Trade? Multiple former Prime Ministers, from both sides of the House, have criticised the decision. A former Conservative Secretary of State for International Development said: "Most British diplomats lack the experience and skills to manage 100 million pound development programs…Trying to pretend these two very different organisations are" the same "damages both." Laurie Lee, the chief executive of Care International, said, "this is the worst decision on aid since the Pergau dam scandal" and "In the middle of a national crisis, the Prime Minister has chosen to spend time, focus and effort on fixing a problem which does not exist…it’s not too late…to think again." This is not global Britain. This retreat from the global stage is a mistake, and we firmly oppose this attempt to abolish the Department. It will not only have a life-threatening impact on the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people, but it will reduce our ability to make the world safer, fairer and better for all.
DFID-FCO Merger — House of Commons, 2020-06-18
Topic: International Affairs
Sarah Deborah Champion (Labour, Centre-left): This rushed merger was done without consultation with the sector, Parliament, staff or the staff trade unions, at a time when the global south is about to be hit by a global pandemic. The Government urgently need to clarify the implications of the merger on the 3,600 DFID staff. Does the Foreign Secretary agree with the Prime Minister that there needs to be an ODA Select Committee? Is he committed to the Conservative Independent Commission for Aid Impact? Can he confirm that existing DFID projects will continue and funding agreements will remain in place, and what will happen to the current review of DFID projects?
DFID-FCO Merger — House of Commons, 2020-06-18
Topic: International Affairs
Kate Ofunne Osamor (Labour, Centre-left): As the coronavirus pandemic has laid bare, the interconnectedness of the modern world means that no one is safe until we are all safe. The UK’s commitment to international development is even more vital in the response to covid-19 at home and abroad. The sudden merging of DFID and the FCO and the absence of any parliamentary scrutiny or consultation means that we must focus on the quality of aid now spent through the Foreign Office. Can the Foreign Secretary give the House a commitment that the aid budget will not be tilted towards richer countries like Ukraine and that we will continue to spend at least 50% of aid in the least developed countries? Can he give a yes or no answer to this: will there be a retaining of a Cabinet Minister responsible for international development—not the Prime Minister—with a place on the National Security Council, so that humanitarian and development considerations are heard at the top of Government?
DFID-FCO Merger — House of Commons, 2020-06-18
Topic: International Affairs
Stephen Creswell Timms (Labour, Centre-left): For 20 years, since the success of the Jubilee 2000 campaign, there has been a consensus across the House about the importance of international development, and I commend the Churches in particular for delivering and establishing that consensus. I deeply regret that this downgrade is bringing it to an end. Does the Foreign Secretary recognise how many people in the UK profoundly disagree with his claim and believe there is a profound difference between focusing on doing good in the world—tackling poverty and dealing with the climate crisis—and what he and his colleagues regard as our own national interests?
DFID-FCO Merger — House of Commons, 2020-06-18
Topic: International Affairs
Rushanara Ali (Labour, Centre-left): The spread of covid-19 has pushed half a billion people into poverty and 265 million to the brink of starvation. This merger is a massive distraction in the middle of an emergency. Can the Foreign Secretary assure the House that official development assistance will not be misspent on foreign security projects, which risk the UK contributing to human rights abuses abroad?
DFID-FCO Merger — House of Commons, 2020-06-18
Topic: International Affairs
Richard Burgon (Labour, Centre-left): Mr Speaker, "some giant cashpoint in the sky that arrives without any reference to UK interests"—[Official Report, 16 June 2020; Vol. 677, c. 670.] That is how the Prime Minister describes aid to the poorest and most exploited nations and people in the globe. In a Spectator article, he previously mocked such aid as "politically correct", with aid workers building toilets that people will end up living in and handing out condoms. In the same article, he said of British colonialism in Africa: "The problem is not that we were once in charge, but that we are not in charge any more." Is it not the brutal truth that the Prime Minister is not interested in poverty reduction at home or abroad?
DFID-FCO Merger — House of Commons, 2020-06-18
Topic: International Affairs
Chinyelu Susan Onwurah (Labour, Centre-left): As chair of the all-party parliamentary group for Africa, I would like to put on record my view that the takeover of DFID by the FCO will undermine Britain’s influence in Africa, not enhance it. Diplomacy is not development. Diplomacy must and should be driven by British interests. Development must be seen to be in the interests of the country concerned. DFID benefited from not being seen as an arm of British foreign policy. Will the Foreign Secretary take this opportunity to confirm that this takeover will not lead to a reduction in the proportion of aid that goes to Africa?
DFID-FCO Merger — House of Commons, 2020-06-18
Topic: International Affairs
Rupa Asha Huq (Labour, Centre-left): After failing to consult the Cabinet let alone the sector, does the takeover not spell the end of collective responsibility and transparency, and show us that it is not the Foreign Secretary or the Prime Minister in charge but another Dominic—and he has got to go?
International Development — House of Commons, 2020-06-18
Topic: International Affairs
Rosalie Winterton (Labour, Centre-left): I understand that it is the will of the House that motions 1 to 5 on international development be debated together. The debate will last up to 90 minutes. When the first motion has been decided, I will call the Minister to move the other motions formally. If a Member objects, the motions will be taken separately. I now call the Minister to move the first motion and speak to all five motions.
International Development — House of Commons, 2020-06-18
Topic: International Affairs
Rosalie Winterton (Labour, Centre-left): With this it will be convenient to discuss the following motions: That the draft African Development Bank (Further Payments to Capital Stock) Order 2020, which was laid before this House on 19 May, be approved That the draft African Development Fund (Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative) (Amendment) Order 2020, which was laid before this House on 19 May, be approved That the draft International Development Association (Nineteenth Replenishment) Order 2020, which was laid before this House on 19 May, be approved That the draft International Development Association (Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative) (Amendment) Order 2020, which was laid before this House on 19 May, be approved.
International Development — House of Commons, 2020-06-18
Topic: International Affairs
Stephen John Doughty (Labour, Centre-left): Given that these orders are made under the International Development Act 2002, does the Government have any plans to change or amend that Act given the importance of all these orders being focused on poverty eradication?
Covid-19: BAME Communities — House of Commons, 2020-06-18
Topic: Government Operations
Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour, Centre-left): Does my hon. Friend not agree that with more than 200 recommendations from previous reviews already gathering dust, the reason why so many of us are pointing out, again and again, that we need action and not more reviews and investigations is that we have not even implemented a single recommendation from the previous reviews?
US Free Trade Agreement — House of Commons, 2020-05-12
Topic: Foreign Trade
Emily Thornberry (Labour, Centre-left): I thank the Secretary of State for the warm welcome that she has given me in this new role and for the co-operative discussions that we have enjoyed so far in relation to both coronavirus and US trade. On the latter subject, she will be aware that the Trump Administration and the US Congress see the US-Mexico-Canada agreement on trade as a template for every other free trade agreement that they are looking to sign around the world. Can the Secretary of State make it clear to them today that she will not agree to any version of article 32.10 of the USMCA that would constrain the UK’s ability to negotiate our own trade agreement with China and therefore represent an unacceptable breach of the sovereignty of this Parliament?
Free Trade Deals — House of Commons, 2020-05-12
Topic: Foreign Trade
William Roffen Esterson (Labour, Centre-left): Our priorities for the last four years were supposed to be in this order: first, securing a free trade agreement with the EU; secondly, rolling over all our existing deals with third countries; and thirdly, agreeing free trade deals with the rest of the world. Can the Secretary of State explain why the Government have failed on all three?
Free Trade Deals — House of Commons, 2020-05-12
Topic: Foreign Trade
Kerry Gillian McCarthy (Labour, Centre-left): Will the Secretary of State tell the House what the UK’s approach will be to chemicals regulation during any future trade negotiations? Will we retain the precautionary principle, or is she looking to relax our current laws?
Import of Medical Products — House of Commons, 2020-05-12
Topic: Foreign Trade
Grahame Mark Morris (Labour, Centre-left): Across the world, we are being advised to wash our hands with soap regularly to keep us safe from the virus, but the average import tariff on soap among WTO members stands at 17%, with some countries charging tariffs of up to 65%. What steps has the Minister taken to seek global agreement to reduce tariffs on the import of soap and other hygiene products, to combat the spread of covid-19?
Covid-19: Business Support — House of Commons, 2020-05-12
Topic: Foreign Trade
Victoria Jane Foxcroft (Labour, Centre-left): For British companies that trade overseas, the one thing guaranteed to make a very bad situation even worse would be the loss of free frictionless trade with the rest of the EU at the end of the year, so will the Minister reassure UK firms that the top priority when it comes to trade is securing the free trade agreement that we need with Europe?
Covid-19: Business Support — House of Commons, 2020-05-12
Topic: Foreign Trade
Julie Elliott (Labour, Centre-left): In Sunderland and the wider north-east, lots of businesses—large, small and start-ups—rely on international supply chains as they trade internationally. What are the Government doing in these challenging times to ensure that international supply chains are protected?
Covid-19: Economic Package — House of Commons, 2020-05-12
Topic: Labor
Anneliese Jane Dodds (Labour, Centre-left): Thank you, Mr Speaker, for granting this urgent question. I would also like to wish the Chancellor many happy returns As a constructive Opposition, we want to work with the Government to ensure that people’s jobs and incomes are protected and the furlough scheme is a critical element of that. Many of the more than 6 million people who are currently furloughed were taken aback by comments made in the media by Government spokespeople suggesting that, for example, people needed to be weaned off an addiction to the scheme. There were many intimations that changes might have been announced to that scheme by the Chancellor, potentially in the media, without the opportunity for proper scrutiny I have only heard about these changes in the last few seconds. We will look at them very carefully, but there are some critical principles that the Chancellor surely must follow as he redesigns the scheme First, we must acknowledge that people did not want to be furloughed. It occurred through no choice of their own and through following the Government’s advice about the closure of sectors. It is critically important that they are not penalised for that choice I welcome the flexibility mentioned. We have asked for that repeatedly; it applies in many other countries. It has been a long time coming, but I welcome the fact that it is occurring now That flexibility includes an employer contribution, so the Chancellor needs to provide more information about that employer contribution now. He also surely needs to provide more information about alternatives to the scheme. Other countries have job creation, training schemes and redeployment schemes. We do not have those yet. Will the Chancellor work with me, trade unions, businesses, local authorities and further and higher education institutions to create the support that is so desperately needed?
Covid-19: Economic Package — House of Commons, 2020-05-12
Topic: Labor
Kevin Denis Brennan (Labour, Centre-left): Prynhawn da, Mr Speaker. The Chancellor has said that he is doing everything he can, but has he seen the New Starter Justice campaign for people who started or were due to start a new job after 28 February and are still cut adrift from any help from the Chancellor and his schemes? Why has he thrown this particular group of hard-working British people under the bus?
Covid-19: Economic Package — House of Commons, 2020-05-12
Topic: Labor
Judith Mary Cummins (Labour, Centre-left): Has the Treasury made an assessment of how many employers are currently topping up the wages of furloughed workers to full pay? If the Government reduce the amount they are contributing, many employers may struggle to top up wages. What will the Government do if employers cannot top up wages?
Covid-19: Economic Package — House of Commons, 2020-05-12
Topic: Labor
Helen Elizabeth Hayes (Labour, Centre-left): The extent of Government support available is of cold comfort to those who are still not receiving any support. New starters are being abandoned simply by accident of the date on which they happened to change jobs. Those workers could be helped if the Government would accept evidence of their employment in the form of a contract of employment. Many of these workers have paid taxes for years. Will the Chancellor reconsider his approach and take further action so that new starters are not left behind?
Covid-19: Economic Package — House of Commons, 2020-05-12
Topic: Labor
Gerald Jones (Labour, Centre-left): The furlough scheme is hugely welcome, but it needs greater flexibility. I hear what the Chancellor says, but the Opposition have set out ways in which the furlough scheme arrangements could be adapted to include new starters who have just missed out without risking fraudulent payments. Will he give those proposals urgent and serious consideration?
Covid-19: Economic Package — House of Commons, 2020-05-12
Topic: Macroeconomics
John Eugene Joseph Dromey (Labour, Centre-left): If 800,000 businesses have benefited from the welcome job retention scheme, the 800,000-strong world-class automotive industry will be key to recovery, including Jaguar Land Rover, whose Jaguar factory lies at the heart of my constituency of Erdington. Does the Chancellor recognise that the continuation of the job retention scheme for as long as is necessary, together with welcome measures to help companies that are deeply in debt and battling with liquidity, will be crucial for the future, providing the necessary certainty upon which businesses, workers and trade unions can plan to rebuild?
Covid-19: Economic Package — House of Commons, 2020-05-12
Topic: Labor
Richard Burgon (Labour, Centre-left): Many minimum wage workers have been furloughed. They are now expected to get by on just 80% of the minimum wage, even though rents, bills and food prices have not fallen. Will the Chancellor implement guarantees, so that no furloughed worker is ever forced to live on less than 100% of the national minimum wage?
Covid-19: Economic Package — House of Commons, 2020-05-12
Topic: Labor
Margaret Olivia Hillier (Labour, Centre-left): The Chancellor has spoken about freelancers, who often work on short-term contracts or for personal service companies. In answer to the right hon. Member for Ashford (Damian Green), he talked about optimising the existing mechanisms for those people, but will he come forward today with the suggestion that there are concrete proposals in place? These are people with clear financial records and they often have accountants, so there is a track record. Will the Chancellor support these different types of self-employed people?
Covid-19: Economic Package — House of Commons, 2020-05-12
Topic: Social Welfare
Eleanor Claire Reeves (Labour, Centre-left): Women who are eligible for the self-employed income support scheme but have taken a period of maternity leave since 2016 could receive up to one third less financial support. This discriminates against women on lower incomes in particular, penalises families with young children, and exacerbates the gender pay gap. Will the Chancellor therefore exempt periods of maternity leave from the self-employed income support scheme calculations?
Covid-19: Economic Package — House of Commons, 2020-05-12
Topic: Macroeconomics
Zarah Sultana (Labour, Centre-left): It is estimated that the economic impact of the pandemic will hit the west midlands the hardest. It was announced this week that a manufacturer and supplier to Jaguar Land Rover in Coventry South has gone into administration, putting 600 jobs at risk. Will the Government therefore step up efforts to protect manufacturing jobs, especially in the automotive industry, and invest in them to provide green sustainable jobs for the future?
Covid-19: Economic Package — House of Commons, 2020-05-12
Topic: Government Operations
Andrew John Gwynne (Labour, Centre-left): Although I welcome the announcement on furlough, the Chancellor knows that the Government’s covid response would have completely stalled without local government, yet our councils are now financially on the brink. The extra funding does not cover all the costs, which is something that Ministers promised. Will he ensure that our councils are fully reimbursed for all covid-related costs and lost income and protect the sector that has protected us?
Covid-19: Economic Package — House of Commons, 2020-05-12
Topic: Government Operations
Ruth Lorraine Jones (Labour, Centre-left): Yesterday I asked the Prime Minister about engagement with the devolved Governments in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. I would like to try again today, and I hope receive a more detailed response from the Chancellor. Can he please outline what specific conversations he had with the devolved Administrations about these changes and when those conversations took place?