argyrotsipi/train-dataset huggingface dataset:
Climate Change — House of Commons, 2019-06-18
Topic: Environment
Timothy Paul Loughton (Conservative, Centre-right): I, too, wish to acknowledge the climate emergency declared by the House. I also wish to convey the sentiments shared by the good people of East Worthing and Shoreham, 123 of whom have presented this petition. It Declares that climate change is a serious and pressing concern and needs urgent attention from the Governments of the world It further declares that the UK has a leading role to play in tackling climate change in the future. The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to ensure that London hosts the upcoming COP 26 Climate Change Conference in 2020 I think that some good news may be heading their way very shortly Following is the full text of the petition: [The petition of Residents of the constituency of East Worthing and Shoreham, Declares that climate change is a serious and pressing concern and needs urgent attention from the Governments of the world. The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to ensure that London hosts the upcoming COP 26 Climate Change Conference in 2020. And the petitioners remain, etc.] [P002464]
Climate Change — House of Commons, 2019-06-18
Topic: Environment
Maria Colette Caulfield (Conservative, Centre-right): I rise to present a petition on behalf of 624 constituents, hundreds of whom are from two secondary schools, Priory School in Lewes and Seaford Head School The petition of Residents of the constituency of Lewes, Declares that climate change is a serious and pressing concern and needs urgent attention from the Governments of the world The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to ensure that London hosts the upcoming COP 26 Climate Change Conference in 2020 And the petitioners remain, etc [P002465]
Climate Change — House of Commons, 2019-06-18
Topic: Environment
Nigel Paul Huddleston (Conservative, Centre-right): The residents of Mid Worcestershire also declare that climate change is a serious and pressing concern and needs urgent attention I therefore present this petition from constituents young and old Following is the full text of the petition: [The petition of residents of the constituency of Mid Worcestershire, Declares that climate change is a serious and pressing concern and needs urgent attention from the Governments of the world. The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to ensure that London hosts the upcoming COP 26 Climate Change Conference in 2020. And the petitioners remain, etc.] [P002469]
Climate Change — House of Commons, 2019-06-18
Topic: Environment
Victoria Grace Ford (Conservative, Centre-right): On behalf of the residents of Chelmsford, who also care passionately about the planet, I would like to present a petition in the same terms. The petition has 228 signatures, 203 from the Chelmsford constituency and 25 from the wider Essex area, and I particularly thank the staff, parents and pupils of Our Lady Immaculate primary school in Chelmsford, who gathered an impressive 122 signatures The petition states: The petition of residents of Chelmsford, Declares that climate change is a serious and pressing concern and needs urgent attention from the Governments of the world; further that the UK has a leading role to play on tackling climate change in the future The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to ensure the UK hosts the upcoming COP 26 Climate Change Conference in 2020 And the petitioners remain, etc [P002466]
Climate Change — House of Commons, 2019-06-18
Topic: Environment
Robert Alexander Courts (Conservative, Centre-right): I too rise to present a petition from the residents of the constituency of Witney and West Oxfordshire. There are 1,469 signatures, and I particularly want to thank the parents and pupils of the following schools: Ducklington Primary, Enstone Primary, Marlborough School, Kingham Hill School, Wood Green School, North Leigh Primary School, Copethorpe School, Great Rollright Primary School and Bampton Primary School The petition states: The petition of the residents of the constituency of Witney and West Oxfordshire, Declares that climate change is a serious and pressing concern and needs urgent attention from the Governments of the world; further that the UK has a leading role to play on tackling climate change in the future The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to ensure the UK hosts the upcoming COP 26 Climate Change Conference in 2020 And the petitioners remain, etc [P002467]
Bank Holidays in 2020 — House of Commons, 2019-06-18
Topic: Macroeconomics
Andrew George Stephenson (Conservative, Centre-right): Let me continue a little As my hon. Friend the Member for St Ives acknowledged, we all know the history: in Cornwall, 4,786 casualties were identified as the result of world war two, including the deaths of 54 sets of brothers and nine sets of fathers and sons. I expect that the people of St Ives will understand the importance of honouring those who served in the war, as my hon. Friend rightly said, and pay tribute to the brave people of Cornwall who served or laid down their lives in conflict. In the light of the lateness of the decision, my hon. Friend asked the Government to create an extra bank holiday to avoid disruption. The Government regularly receive requests for additional bank and public holidays to commemorate a variety of occasions, such as cultural history and military and religious events. My ministerial colleague, the Minister for Small Business, took a House of Commons petitions debate introduced by the hon. Member for Linlithgow and East Falkirk (Martyn Day) relating to holding public holidays on religious occasions last year, in which the merit of bank holidays for important religious occasions, such as Eid and Diwali, was debated It is the duty of any responsible Government, however, to judge impacts on the overall economy and the economic impacts on all sectors. Although an additional bank holiday may benefit some people and some sectors—my hon. Friend made a good point about the benefit it certainly has for our pub sector—the cost to the economy of an additional bank holiday is considerable. The impact on the economy of the one-off bank holiday for the Queen’s diamond jubilee in 2012 was estimated at £1.2 billion. The cost falls heaviest on the manufacturing sector, with the burden being twice as big as that on the service sector. We need to take into account not just the fact that there are different impacts on different sectors—some gaining and others not—but the size of those impacts. The Government considered these issues carefully and it was judged that moving the bank holiday, rather than creating an additional one, is the most appropriate way on this occasion following the precedent set by the 50th anniversary Friday 8 May next year will be a valuable opportunity for people across the UK to take time to commemorate the historic occasion of victory in Europe and pay tribute to those who sacrificed their lives in the second world war on behalf of us all. I thank my hon. Friend for allowing me the opportunity to discuss the Government’s position on the significance of bank holidays in 2020 Question put and agreed to.
Universal Credit: Roll-out — House of Commons, 2019-07-01
Topic: Social Welfare
Amber Rudd (Conservative, Centre-right): The national roll-out of universal credit was completed in December 2018. As of May 2019, there are now more than 2 million people claiming universal credit, and of those, 34% are in work. We now plan to begin "the move to UC" pilot later this month.
Universal Credit: Roll-out — House of Commons, 2019-07-01
Topic: Labor
Amber Rudd (Conservative, Centre-right): I am aware that the hon. Gentleman has raised this matter before and has had a number of meetings with the Minister for Employment. As a result of some of those meetings, we have already increased the additional funds available to councils such as the one to which he refers. There has been an increase in the total amount of new burdens money that has been paid out, but we have also said that we will investigate further. I want to reassure him that this is not finished yet, and that I will continue to look at it myself to ensure that there is satisfaction.
Universal Credit: Roll-out — House of Commons, 2019-07-01
Topic: Labor
Stephen Charles Kerr (Conservative, Centre-right): May I thank my right hon. Friend for her very successful visit to Stirling last Thursday and Friday? When we met the work coaches and the other staff of the Department of Work and Pensions team at Randolphfield, was she struck, as I was once again, with their degree of dedication and their genuine concern for the claimants with whom they work? They are a credit to themselves and to the DWP team. Does she agree that, rather than spread fear and scaremongering, Scottish National party Members should be encouraging the people who live in their constituencies to go to the DWP to get the help that they need, confident that they will be respected and treated with genuine dignity?
Universal Credit: Roll-out — House of Commons, 2019-07-01
Topic: Labor
Amber Rudd (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank my hon. Friend for his important question and for setting up the visit, which was so useful and purposeful. I do note that when I went to the jobcentre and met the work coaches, they were passionate about delivering the right outcomes for their constituents. When we asked them what they would change about universal credit, they said the publicity, because they are so committed to getting the right outcomes for the right people. These are people who are doing good work for good people.
Universal Credit: Roll-out — House of Commons, 2019-07-01
Topic: Social Welfare
Amber Rudd (Conservative, Centre-right): That is largely correct. The only issue here is about the evidence that people now have to supply which they did not have to supply before. I know that there are a number of places where people were able to claim benefits and they now no longer qualify for universal credit. We are looking at those individually to see whether it is an issue with their application for settled status or something else.
Universal Credit: Roll-out — House of Commons, 2019-07-01
Topic: Social Welfare
Questions: Universal credit was rolled out in my area last year. Staff at my local citizens advice bureau found that, last year, 1,882 people contacted them in relation to debt linked to universal credit. Surely that is an indication of how many people are finding difficulty in managing during that initial five-week wait. Will the Secretary of State tell me when the Government will act to end the misery of the five-week wait?
Amber Rudd (Conservative, Centre-right): In answer to the first part of the hon. Gentleman’s question, which is about assistance in getting the applications through, we announced in April this year the help-to-claim arrangements so that applicants who are struggling to apply for universal credit can have the additional support they need from citizens advice bureaux. I hope that he will find that that is working well in his local bureau. On the second part about getting money to people earlier, as he will be aware, we have made advances available and we are extending the amount of time over which people have to repay it and the amount that is deducted from their core amounts so that they do not feel it as badly as they would have previously.
Universal Credit: Roll-out — House of Commons, 2019-07-01
Topic: Social Welfare
Questions: Universal credit was rolled out in my area last year. Staff at my local citizens advice bureau found that, last year, 1,882 people contacted them in relation to debt linked to universal credit. Surely that is an indication of how many people are finding difficulty in managing during that initial five-week wait. Will the Secretary of State tell me when the Government will act to end the misery of the five-week wait?
Amber Rudd (Conservative, Centre-right): I will try not to be distracted by the hon. Gentleman’s slightly personal remarks. He might know that I visited Scotland last week, and the Scottish Government have taken their own steps on what they feel is the way to address child poverty. Those of us on the Government side of the House feel that the best way to address child poverty is to help more people into work. I am proud of the fact that there are now 1 million more people in work and that over 600,000 children are no longer in houses where no people work.
Universal Credit: Roll-out — House of Commons, 2019-07-01
Topic: Social Welfare
Questions: Universal credit was rolled out in my area last year. Staff at my local citizens advice bureau found that, last year, 1,882 people contacted them in relation to debt linked to universal credit. Surely that is an indication of how many people are finding difficulty in managing during that initial five-week wait. Will the Secretary of State tell me when the Government will act to end the misery of the five-week wait?
Amber Rudd (Conservative, Centre-right): Again, I point to the fact that there are different ways of addressing poverty, both child poverty and family poverty: one is to hand out money, which is what the Scottish Government have chosen to do; and another is to focus, with laser-like attention, on ensuring that we build the economy and create employment and that there are good jobs so that people can support their family.
Departmental Organisation — House of Commons, 2019-07-01
Topic: Social Welfare
Amber Rudd (Conservative, Centre-right): There has been no such assessment. As one Department, we have rolled out universal credit, providing a holistic benefits system to ensure that everyone is given the support they need. As one Department, we have seen record levels of employment and the lowest unemployment rate since the 1970s.
Departmental Organisation — House of Commons, 2019-07-01
Topic: Social Welfare
Amber Rudd (Conservative, Centre-right): Although I recognise the good work that the hon. Gentleman has done in many of these areas, I respectfully disagree. I think that it is right that those elements are held together in one Department. If we look at the results, we are seeing record levels of pensioner poverty—[Interruption.]
Child Poverty — House of Commons, 2019-07-01
Topic: Social Welfare
William James Quince (Conservative, Centre-right): Tackling poverty will always be a priority for this Government, and I take these numbers extremely seriously. In the latest low income statistics, child poverty increased in three of the four measures. The evidence shows that work is the best route out of poverty, and there are 667,000 fewer children in workless households compared with 2010.
Child Poverty — House of Commons, 2019-07-01
Topic: Labor
William James Quince (Conservative, Centre-right): As I have said, the latest statistics show that full-time work substantially reduces the chance of poverty. The absolute poverty rate of a child where both parents work full-time is only 4% compared with 44% where one or more parents are in part-time work. We are supporting people into full-time work where possible—for example, by offering 30 hours of free childcare to parents of three and four-year-olds. Over three quarters of the growth in employment since 2010 has been in full-time work.
Child Poverty — House of Commons, 2019-07-01
Topic: Social Welfare
William James Quince (Conservative, Centre-right): Without knowing the exact figure, it is too many. My role within the Department, and the role of the Department itself, is to address that. My hon. Friend will know too well that the best route out of poverty is work. That is why our focus is on universal credit. Universal credit is working in terms of getting more people into work, and more people are staying in work.
Child Poverty — House of Commons, 2019-07-01
Topic: Social Welfare
William James Quince (Conservative, Centre-right): I recognise the passion with which the hon. Gentleman raises his point, but, in terms of the five-week wait, nobody has to wait for their first payment of universal credit, as 100% of their indicative advance is available on day one. It is interest-free, repayable over 12 months—and, as the Secretary of State has said, that will in future be moving to 16 months. That is available and about 60% of people are currently taking it up.
Child Poverty — House of Commons, 2019-07-01
Topic: Social Welfare
William James Quince (Conservative, Centre-right): The policy to provide support for a maximum of two children helps to ensure fairness by asking parents receiving benefits to face the same financial choices as those in work. Safeguards are in place and we have made changes this year to make the policy fairer. Tackling poverty remains a priority. We are spending over £95 billion a year on welfare and providing free school meals to more than 1 million children.
People with Disabilities: Employment — House of Commons, 2019-07-01
Topic: Labor
Justin Paul Tomlinson (Conservative, Centre-right): We support disabled people into work through initiatives like the Work and Health programme, the Personal Support Package, and the new Intensive Personalised Employment Support programme launching at the end of 2019. Access to Work approved support for nearly 34,000 disabled workers last year, and we engage with employers through the Disability Confident campaign.
People with Disabilities: Employment — House of Commons, 2019-07-01
Topic: Labor
Mary Josephine Robinson (Conservative, Centre-right): The 19% disability employment gap in Cheadle highlights our untapped talent and the challenge facing the Government in getting a further 1 million disabled people into work over the next eight years. Greater flexibility in working hours, managing time and accommodating medical appointments are just some of the ways to close the gap, but there is clearly more to be done. Does my hon. Friend agree that employers should be encouraged to think creatively about how to make work more accommodating to disabled people?
People with Disabilities: Employment — House of Commons, 2019-07-01
Topic: Labor
Justin Paul Tomlinson (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend is spot on. I was at Employability Day on Friday, celebrating, meeting disabled people who had got into work and, crucially, meeting employers who had often made very small changes. The key message was that it is a win-win. The 950,000 more disabled people who we have got into work are making a real difference to businesses that have taken those steps.
People with Disabilities: Employment — House of Commons, 2019-07-01
Topic: Education
Gillian Keegan (Conservative, Centre-right): I recently met the charity Root Experience at Chichester library, where it was launching a book called "Hidden Stories". The book puts a spotlight on hidden disabilities such as epilepsy or autism and how they impact people on a day-to-day basis. Would my hon. Friend be happy to receive a copy of the book? What steps is the DWP taking to promote education and awareness of hidden disabilities in the workplace?
People with Disabilities: Employment — House of Commons, 2019-07-01
Topic: Labor
Justin Paul Tomlinson (Conservative, Centre-right): I will commit to continuing to do everything we can to ensure that all people with disabilities and long-term health conditions have the maximum chance to get into work. I am very proud of the fact that over the last five years alone, 950,000 more disabled people are in work, and we continue to make good progress towards our target of a further 1 million disabled people in work by 2027.
Universal Credit: Food Banks — House of Commons, 2019-07-01
Topic: Social Welfare
William James Quince (Conservative, Centre-right): There are a range of reasons why people make use of food banks. The key for the DWP is to ensure that welfare claimants are able to access funds in a timely manner. That is why advances are available, so that no one has to wait five weeks for their first universal credit payment.
Universal Credit: Food Banks — House of Commons, 2019-07-01
Topic: Social Welfare
William James Quince (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank the hon. Lady for her question. We continue to provide a strong safety net through the welfare system for those who need extra support and, as I have said, people use food banks for many and varied reasons. We review research carried out by organisations, including the Trussell Trust, to add to our understanding of food bank use. I intend to work far more closely with the Trussell Trust and other food bank providers, including other stakeholders in this area. I want food bank providers and jobcentres to work far more closely together so that we can better understand the issues and then put in place the interventions to make the situation better.
Universal Credit: Food Banks — House of Commons, 2019-07-01
Topic: Social Welfare
William James Quince (Conservative, Centre-right): I am sorry to hear the hon. Gentleman’s example. If I get a chance to visit his local food bank, I will certainly do so, but I have to stress that no claimant needs to wait more than five weeks to receive their first regular universal credit payment. We have listened to feedback on how we can support our claimants and made improvements, such as extending advances, removing waiting days and introducing housing benefit run-on. I will continue to work with the Trussell Trust and others to improve our system in any way we can.
Universal Credit: Food Banks — House of Commons, 2019-07-01
Topic: Social Welfare
William James Quince (Conservative, Centre-right): I respect the hon. Lady’s knowledge in this area on the Select Committee, but I would say that advances are not loans from a separate fund; they are the claimant’s benefit paid early, which is then recovered over an agreed period. So they are in place to ensure that those in genuine need are able to receive financial support and are not reliant on illegal or high-cost lenders. But if a claimant considers they are facing financial hardship because of the amount that is being deducted from their universal credit award, they can ask the Department to consider reducing their deductions. As of October this year, the maximum deduction goes down from 40% to 30%.
Universal Credit: Working People’s Incomes — House of Commons, 2019-07-01
Topic: Labor
Alok Kumar Sharma (Conservative, Centre-right): One of the key transformations that universal credit provides is to support people who are in work, ensuring they can increase their earnings and develop in their career. It removes the 16-hour cliff edge, which held so many back on legacy benefits, and gives improved, tailored support through jobcentre work coaches.
Universal Credit: Working People’s Incomes — House of Commons, 2019-07-01
Topic: Social Welfare
Robert William Henry Seely (Conservative, Centre-right): Will the Minister join me in thanking the excellent DWP staff on the Isle of Wight, some of whom I met in Newport a few weeks ago? I am sure he and the team will seek to make further improvements to universal credit, but it was clear to me, talking to those staff, that universal credit enables them to do more good for more people than the inflexible system that preceded it.
Universal Credit: Working People’s Incomes — House of Commons, 2019-07-01
Topic: Social Welfare
Alok Kumar Sharma (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank my hon. Friend for being a huge champion for the Isle of Wight and working so well with his local jobcentre. I am very pleased about that and he is absolutely right. As a result of universal credit, people are able to get the support—that one-to-one support—that is so vital. Since 2016, an extra £10 billion has gone into the system.