argyrotsipi/train-dataset huggingface dataset:
Covid-19 — House of Commons, 2020-03-16
Topic: Macroeconomics
Matthew John David Hancock (Conservative, Centre-right): I absolutely understand the point that the right hon. Member is making, and he is right to make it. Of course, these are matters for the Chancellor of the Exchequer, rather than me. There was a G7 call today, in which the Prime Minister participated, during which economic considerations like this were considered. Finally, every single one of us in the House will have businesses in our constituencies that are already facing the brunt of this virus. We saw from the collapse of Flybe right at the start—that feels like weeks ago—the very significant economic consequences, and we have our eyes wide open to those.
Covid-19 — House of Commons, 2020-03-16
Topic: Education
Matthew John David Hancock (Conservative, Centre-right): We are looking at all those questions. The proposal to relax student-staff ratios is in the Bill. We will publish the content of the Bill tomorrow and the Bill itself on Thursday. The point about key workers is incredibly important. I am working hard with the Education Secretary to address precisely the concerns that my hon. Friend raises. Of course schools play an important part not just in educating our children but in allowing so many people to go to work, but we have to make sure that they are safe as well. One of the blessings of this virus is that it almost entirely spares children, which means that it is safe for children to go to school.
Covid-19 — House of Commons, 2020-03-16
Topic: Social Welfare
Matthew John David Hancock (Conservative, Centre-right): Obviously, that is an incredibly important area. Earlier today, there was a call with local authority leaders, my right hon. Friend the Communities Secretary and the Care Minister. Enormous amounts of work are being done and we will do everything we can to support social care.
Covid-19 — House of Commons, 2020-03-16
Topic: Technology
John Alan Redwood (Conservative, Centre-right): Will the Secretary of State make sure that in the legal powers and guidance will be provision to ensure that all our councillors who are over 70 can participate fully in council and committee meetings from their home, using technology?
Covid-19 — House of Commons, 2020-03-16
Topic: International Affairs
Matthew John David Hancock (Conservative, Centre-right): I half agree with the right hon. Gentleman, and that is because I think that international co-ordination is important—I have been participating in regular G7 calls, as have the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer—but different countries are also in different places on the curve. For instance, we have introduced measures such as these earlier on the curve than similar countries, such as France and Germany.
Covid-19 — House of Commons, 2020-03-16
Topic: Social Welfare
Bernard Christison Jenkin (Conservative, Centre-right): Will my right hon. Friend join me in thanking the thousands of local community groups that are already mobilising in order to deal with what may be a very serious situation in their communities, involving looking after vulnerable people and even nursing the sick? Will he, with the Prime Minister and others, make sure that we mobilise these people and empower them to take decisions without having to wait for instructions?
Covid-19 — House of Commons, 2020-03-16
Topic: Education
Damian Howard Green (Conservative, Centre-right): May I ask my right hon. Friend about specific very vulnerable groups? A mother in my constituency is keeping her four children off school because her husband is a diabetic and she does not want to put him at unnecessary risk. Is she doing the right thing? More generally, what should pregnant teachers be doing? Should they be going into work now, or is that too risky?
Covid-19 — House of Commons, 2020-03-16
Topic: Social Welfare
Matthew John David Hancock (Conservative, Centre-right): I discussed this issue with the hon. Member for Leicester South (Jonathan Ashworth). The delivery of support to make sure that nobody is penalised for doing the right thing is incredibly important but, as the hon. Lady says, there is no employer for those who are self-employed, so it has to be delivered through the benefits system.
Covid-19 — House of Commons, 2020-03-16
Topic: Social Welfare
John Charles Baron (Conservative, Centre-right): In welcoming this package of measures, I very much urge my right hon. Friend to encourage businesses to be as flexible as possible so that employees can work from home, and to step up testing for emergency and public sector workers. Will he particularly focus on the elderly and the vulnerable who are living alone? There is a risk that in this sort of scenario they become inadvertently ignored by the system. What more can the Government do to reach out to these people—whether by looking at the voting register or whatever—to ensure that they are catered for? They are particularly vulnerable if they live alone.
Covid-19 — House of Commons, 2020-03-16
Topic: Education
Mark Andrew Pritchard (Conservative, Centre-right): In the past two hours, the Prime Minister has said that school closures will be kept "under review". In the event of a school needing to close, who takes the final decision—is it the Government, the local education authority or the headteacher?
Covid-19 — House of Commons, 2020-03-16
Topic: Social Welfare
Matthew John David Hancock (Conservative, Centre-right): We changed the law on Friday to take into account the need to make sure that payments are made from day one, in some of the benefits. It is absolutely the case that statutory sick pay is paid by employers. For the self-employed, there is no employer. We cannot put in place, in the time that is necessary, a whole new system. We need to make sure that people use the benefits system that exists.
Covid-19 — House of Commons, 2020-03-16
Topic: Macroeconomics
Matthew John David Hancock (Conservative, Centre-right): I am discussing with the Chancellor of the Exchequer a further package of support, because it is absolutely clear that the measures that we are having to take will have a very significant impact on business.
Covid-19 — House of Commons, 2020-03-16
Topic: International Affairs
Abimbola Afolami (Conservative, Centre-right): Will the Secretary of State explain how he and his team have been working to learn from the experience of other countries that are ahead of the curve, so that we can see the things that they have done well, and the things that they have not done so well?
Covid-19 — House of Commons, 2020-03-16
Topic: Social Welfare
Matthew John David Hancock (Conservative, Centre-right): Yes, of course, the further advice will go out for social care. We put updated advice out at the end of last week knowing that that was a likely step, and there will be further advice precisely to help people to address exactly that question.
Covid-19 — House of Commons, 2020-03-16
Topic: Education
Matthew John David Hancock (Conservative, Centre-right): Those are both very important points. Children who receive free school meals often receive their best or, in some cases, their only meal at lunch time at school, and it is an issue that I discussed with the Education Secretary over the weekend.
Covid-19 — House of Commons, 2020-03-16
Topic: Technology
Damian Patrick George Hinds (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend the Member for Folkestone and Hythe (Damian Collins) talked about the importance of information consistency, but some constituents are seeing competing messages which look like they come from credible sources and are then passed on in good faith. In the worst cases, not only do they mislead, they can even be dangerous. May I encourage my right hon. Friend to continue his work with the platforms not only to ensure the primacy of the official information, but to actively work against that which disinforms.
Covid-19 — House of Commons, 2020-03-16
Topic: Government Operations
Robert Joseph Roberts (Conservative, Centre-right): Will my right hon. Friend outline what discussions he has had with the First Minister of Wales to ensure that the plan is consistent and that constituents do not get mixed messages? Furthermore, will he appeal to certain sections of the media to realise the power of their platform and encourage them not to undermine the official advice?
Covid-19 — House of Commons, 2020-03-16
Topic: Social Welfare
Geoffrey Robert Clifton-Brown (Conservative, Centre-right): The Secretary of State’s announcement today will mean that large numbers of elderly and vulnerable people will be required to self-isolate. Will the Government therefore co-ordinate all the volunteering organisations because large numbers of people will be required to deliver necessities to those vulnerable groups?
Covid-19 — House of Commons, 2020-03-16
Topic: Education
Matthew John David Hancock (Conservative, Centre-right): We are looking at the impact of all the decisions that different countries have taken. There will be lots of consequences should we take the decision to close schools, but we have not taken that decision today.
Covid-19 — House of Commons, 2020-03-16
Topic: Transportation
Andrew Campbell Bowie (Conservative, Centre-right): May I pay tribute to my right hon. Friend, and to all the staff and officials at the Department of Health who are working around the clock in incredible situations to deal with coronavirus? Indeed, I also pay tribute to the Secretary of State’s counterpart in the Scottish Government and to all her staff, who are working to do exactly the same north of the border; I know that my constituents in West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine appreciate it. Does the Secretary of State know whether the Transport Secretary will be coming to the House at some point soon to update us on any discussions he is having with the airline industry? The maintenance of routes is very important to the economy of the north-east of Scotland, and the survival of those airlines is vital.
Covid-19 — House of Commons, 2020-03-16
Topic: Social Welfare
Sara Alice Britcliffe (Conservative, Centre-right): Charities and third sector organisations are also going to be deeply affected. Will the Secretary of State inform the House what support will be available to them, especially when they are trying so hard to help in our communities?
Covid-19 — House of Commons, 2020-03-16
Topic: Social Welfare
Matthew John David Hancock (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend is absolutely right to raise such an important point. We need communities and people to come together to help out those who are badly affected by the virus. Of course, that means supporting charities to ensure that they can keep providing the sort of support that we were going to need in the weeks and months to come.
Covid-19 — House of Commons, 2020-03-16
Topic: Macroeconomics
Matthew John David Hancock (Conservative, Centre-right): Yes, the response to this crisis has been extraordinary. Things are happening in this country that nobody would have wished, and things are happening faster than so many people anticipated, but people’s ability to respond—even to changes that nobody would have wanted to see—has so far been, in many cases, remarkable. Of course we talk about the NHS and social care, but so many businesses that are also under intense pressure and stress are looking to see what they can do to help.
Covid-19 — House of Commons, 2020-03-16
Topic: Macroeconomics
Jason McCartney (Conservative, Centre-right): We are all looking for clarity in these uncertain times. I have just been contacted by the owners of a café and a hairdressing business in my constituency, who have heard the strong advice for people not to frequent their businesses, putting them at great risk of not being viable. A lot has happened since the Budget last Wednesday. Does the Health Secretary agree that it would now be useful for the Chancellor to return to the House this week, and clearly to lay out the latest raft of measures available to support large and small businesses, employees, the self-employed and freelancers?
Covid-19 — House of Commons, 2020-03-16
Topic: Social Welfare
Matthew John David Hancock (Conservative, Centre-right): Of course, volunteers have a huge role to play in doing jobs that work for their skillset, but an incredibly high set of skills are needed to support some people—for instance, the people with disabilities that the hon. Member mentions. Supporting those people to get the social care they need is a critical part of our response to this virus.
Covid-19 — House of Commons, 2020-03-16
Topic: Government Operations
Matthew John David Hancock (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Member is quite right to raise this point. In England, where I am responsible for these matters, we are addressing all these points. I am sure that the devolved nations are looking at them too.
Covid-19 — House of Commons, 2020-03-16
Topic: Labor
Felicity Christiana Buchan (Conservative, Centre-right): I have been approached by many who are 70-plus years old who are still in full-time employment. They want to know, if they are still healthy and willing to go to work, that the Government are supportive of them doing so.
Covid-19 — House of Commons, 2020-03-16
Topic: International Affairs
Matthew John David Hancock (Conservative, Centre-right): Now that there is onward transmission in the UK, those sorts of measures are less efficacious. Of course, we have been doing that all along and strengthening it, but there are also those who said, "Go further and stop all the flights." Of course, the Italians were the ones whose who initially stopped flights from China and ended up as the European epicentre of this anyway.
Covid-19 — House of Commons, 2020-03-16
Topic: Agriculture
Matthew John David Hancock (Conservative, Centre-right): We are looking at all those points. With respect to the last one, that is a matter that the Environment Secretary, who is responsible for the food supply, is looking at very closely. We are confident in the food supply of this country, even in the grip of this crisis, but we have to make sure that people behave responsibly in buying only what they need.
Covid-19 — House of Commons, 2020-03-16
Topic: International Affairs
Matthew John David Hancock (Conservative, Centre-right): That is an important point. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary is leading on that response. We have already provided medical capability to try to support people who are on board. It is a difficult situation, as I am sure the hon. Lady will understand. We are doing the very best we can.
Covid-19 — House of Commons, 2020-03-16
Topic: Agriculture
Matthew John David Hancock (Conservative, Centre-right): No. We are very clear that herd immunity is not part of our plan. It is a scientific concept; it is not a goal or a strategy. On the first part of the hon. Gentleman’s question, yes, we will be publishing that modelling.
Covid-19 — House of Commons, 2020-03-16
Topic: Social Welfare
Matthew John David Hancock (Conservative, Centre-right): In answer to a previous question about charities, I made the point that we have a charitable sector that has a huge role to play, including with the increase in volunteering in response to this unprecedented crisis. We will support them in whatever way we can.
Covid-19 — House of Commons, 2020-03-16
Topic: Law and Crime
Matthew John David Hancock (Conservative, Centre-right): We are trying to address the precise point of the supply of medicinal cannabis products through a change to the Home Office regulations anyway. The advice is against unnecessary travel, and the sort of travel that the hon. Gentleman describes sounds very necessary to me.
Covid-19 — House of Commons, 2020-03-16
Topic: Government Operations
Matthew John David Hancock (Conservative, Centre-right): I have many heavy responsibilities, and I hope I have answered questions about the activities of almost every Department of Government, but I am not responsible for IPSA. It is not a Department of Government—it is independent, as we well know. I am sure that Mr Speaker has heard the concern raised, and I am passing this one to you, Sir.
Covid-19 — House of Commons, 2020-03-16
Topic: Macroeconomics
Matthew John David Hancock (Conservative, Centre-right): My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer is in constant dialogue with the Governor of the Bank of England and the banks themselves. There were active discussions over the weekend about what further measures can be brought forward. The hon. Gentleman is right to ask that question of a different Government Department of me. We are working incredibly hard right across Government to address that concern and, indeed, every concern that Members across the House have rightly raised this evening Mr Speaker, I am grateful to you for allowing me to make this statement at an unusual time, and I will commit to come before the House whenever necessary to answer each and every concern.
Budget Resolutions — House of Commons, 2020-03-16
Topic: Education
John Michael Howell (Conservative, Centre-right): I wish to concentrate on two issues: education and justice On education, I have visited every school in my constituency at least once, and a consistent theme that has come out is that the Government have not been open about how schools should cover the changes that occur to them as a result of Government action, rather than things that they control themselves. An example is the minimum wage: it is not that schools disapprove of it, but they just do not know how to cover it. I was therefore glad to see that the budget for schools will increase to £52.2 billion, and I am glad that the increase in per-pupil amounts will go up to £3,750 for primary schools and £5,000 for secondary schools by 2020-21. However, that has still not answered the question that I have been asking Ministers for a long time: does it cover the full amount by which the schools say costs have been increased as a result of our actions as opposed to actions that they control themselves? I would like an answer on that Like my hon. Friend the Member for Newbury (Laura Farris), I am troubled by the special educational needs and disability spending requirements. I am pleased to see that investment has increased by £7 billion, but I do hope that the SEND review, which I welcome fully, will be comprehensive and fully take into account all the things that influence the sector On the question of justice, as a member of the Justice Committee, we did a report on the state of prisons and their governance. We had two aims: first, to ensure that prisons were places of rehabilitation; and, secondly, to ensure that they dealt with a massive backlog of repairs. That is not to make prison a luxury, but to make it inhabitable. In other words, there is a distinction between safety and rehabilitation. There is no lesser emphasis on rehabilitation, and the experience that I have gained from visiting prisons, both in this country and on the continent, has shown that rehabilitation is something that can work, and work effectively. I am fully aware of the £2.5 billion to transform the prison estate and provide 80,000 new places, but the concentration should not be on new places alone. The concentration should also be on dilapidated and decrepit prisons The estimate that we made in the Justice Committee was that there was a spending backlog of £900 million in the Prison Service to make prisons fit for human habitation. Against that, the £150 million that the Government have put forward seems relatively insignificant. I ask the Government to comment on that and on how we will address the £900 million that we have identified as the correct spending Finally, we should give the governors power. They should have complete control over how they deal with spending in their prisons, so that they are able to make sure that prisons are fit for living, because that will increase both the rehabilitation effects of prison and also their good effects on the people and on their future.
Budget Resolutions — House of Commons, 2020-03-16
Topic: Macroeconomics
Robert Alexander Courts (Conservative, Centre-right): I am very grateful to have been squeezed in at the end of this debate. It is quite clear that this Budget and all of us are very much under the shadow of the coronavirus update, and that we will have many stern days ahead of us. We must all pull together, and it is very good to see the House doing that today If I were able to, I would have liked to welcome a number of things in the Budget. I would have liked to have spoken about the environmental measures, and about the measures for veterans and on health in greater detail, as well as about the measures for education and even for potholes, all of which I welcome. If I may, in the brief time available to me, I will just make two points, which are about research and development and education. For many years, this country has lagged behind others in the amount of GDP it puts into research and development. This has meant that we have problems with productivity, and that in many of the areas in which we excel, such as the high-tech areas of the economy, we are not doing as well as we could. I very much welcome the £22 billion going into that, and particularly the blue skies, ARPA-style agency that will be considering some of the high-risk businesses it will be possible to put money into in the future. I very much welcome that, along with some of the education steps that have also been taken, with the T-levels that are coming in. I also greatly welcome the money that has been put into mathematics, and also skills. One of the things that all businesses say in my constituency—I am sure it is the same for other Members—is that they simply do not have enough people with the right skills. The skills shortage is really something that we have to address, and I am very glad that this Budget does so The reason why I make those points and why I am so pleased to welcome these measures in the Budget is that, while we all pull together and deal with the dark days lying ahead of us with the coronavirus epidemic or pandemic, we should look forward to the future because we will have to rebuild the economy, help people to invest and help people to get on with and to rebuild their lives economically as well as personally. It is critical that we do that, because ultimately that is how we will build the excellent public services for the future that we all want to see.
UK/US Free Trade Agreement — House of Commons, 2020-03-05
Topic: Foreign Trade
Aaron Stuart Bell (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank the Secretary of State for that answer, and for the scale of the Government’s ambitions for the trade deal. In Newcastle-under-Lyme we have a number of firms that have US subsidiaries or sister companies, or that themselves have US parent companies. Can she confirm that a comprehensive UK-US trade deal would benefit such firms by cutting red tape and increasing the trading ties between our two countries?
UK/US Free Trade Agreement — House of Commons, 2020-03-05
Topic: Foreign Trade
Elizabeth Mary Truss (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend is absolutely right; every morning more than 1 million people in Britain get up and go to work for American firms, and more than 1 million people in the US go to work for British firms. We want a closer economic relationship so that we can share ideas, products and goods, to the benefit of both nations.
UK/US Free Trade Agreement — House of Commons, 2020-03-05
Topic: Foreign Trade
Elizabeth Mary Truss (Conservative, Centre-right): Laura Cohen, of the British Ceramic Confederation, has said: "A USA trade agreement could help our sector. For example, there are high tariffs on ceramic catering-ware imports…and without this barrier our exports to the USA could grow." Of course we will take action through the Trade Remedies Authority to deal with the illegal dumping of ceramic products on the UK market, but it is simply wrong to say that the ceramics industry would not benefit from a US trade deal.