argyrotsipi/train-dataset huggingface dataset:
Beer Taxation and Pubs — House of Commons, 2019-03-28
Topic: Mixed Topics
Jamie Hume Stone (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): I thank the hon. Member for Dudley South (Mike Wood) for bringing this debate before us. As other Members have said, this is light relief compared with the dark place we have been in for far too long—let me put it that way Many of the points I would have made have already been made, so I will crave your indulgence, Madam Deputy Speaker, and tell a little anecdote from the past. As some Members know, prior to appearing rather unexpectedly in this place, I was much involved in amateur dramatics and the local pantomime group—I have, indeed, been the dame in my time. On a Thursday night—to go back to the halcyon days of pubs—we would repair to a particularly famous old pub in my home town. At 11 o’clock, the barman, Sandy, would say, "Well, well, boys and girls, I think we will need to lock the door." He would shut the massive, great door, turn the key and then carry on pulling the pints. One Thursday, I turned to a new member of the cast beside me at the bar and said, "Goodness me, do you think the bobbies might come knocking on the door tonight?" He laughed and said, "Ha, I’m an off-duty police sergeant," which caused a slight reaction around the bar. Then, a voice further down the bar said, "That’s nothing. I’m an honorary sheriff’s substitute." They were lax days, but I just wanted to tell Members that anecdote There are two points I want to pick up on in my brief contribution. The hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent North (Ruth Smeeth) made the point that publicans and their staff are trained, and they know the danger signs when somebody is drinking too much. As often as not, they will refuse to serve them, or they will get them into a taxi and get them out of the place. How much better is that, as she said, than having some lonely bloke drinking himself into a stupor at home on cheap White Lightning or cheap wine? We all know that far too many household fires are caused by somebody being blootered in their seat and dropping a fag down the back of the settee or whatever. There is therefore a safety aspect to this. If someone goes on holiday to Spain, Italy, or wherever, if they are like me, fairly quickly they think, "I’ll pop down the village". It is a hot day, there is a place with nice wee tables outside, and they have a pint of lager. Let us switch that the other way round. Visitors come to the highlands of Scotland and find no pubs—are you kidding? Tourism is crucial to the highlands, and the one industry that is fundamentally sustainable in the long term. If there are no pubs, the visitor experience will be much impoverished, to say the least, and the bad news is that the next year, people will think, "Perhaps I’ll not go there again". Pubs have a far wider role than has yet been touched on in this debate, and I echo all that has been said about pubs being part of the social fabric of our communities.
Beer Taxation and Pubs — House of Commons, 2019-03-28
Topic: Other
Jamie Hume Stone (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): I could not agree more, and I hope that one day the hon. Gentleman will take me to that splendid place and introduce me to the delights of that nectar I have said enough. As soon as I have the opportunity, I shall invite the hon. Member for Clacton (Giles Watling)—he is not in his place at the moment—to my constituency, and introduce him to its local delights, of which there are many. I hope there will carry on being many, because if we lost them it would be a tragedy.
Permitted Development and Shale Gas Exploration — House of Commons, 2019-03-28
Topic: Mixed Topics
Wera Benedicta Hobhouse (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): I certainly agree that we do not really have comparative data. Fracking is hailed as this new thing that would reduce global warming, but it absolutely does not Giving permitted development rights to shale gas exploration would mean local communities being removed from the decision-making process. That is one of my biggest concerns. This issue was picked up by the report of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee, which concludes: "Shale gas development of any type should not be classed as a permitted development. Given the contentious nature of fracking, local communities should be able to have a say in whether this type of development takes place, particularly as concerns about the construction, locations and cumulative impact of drill pads are yet to be assuaged by the Government".
Permitted Development and Shale Gas Exploration — House of Commons, 2019-03-28
Topic: Mixed Topics
Edward Jonathon Davey (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for making those points. I hope he can confirm that in those years we allowed local democracy to function. I opposed people who were arguing for permitted development, and opposed the idea that this should be some sort of national infrastructure project. We put on, after vast consultation, very strict regulation with regard to seismicity, and we had his support for that. Will he continue with that support?
Sittings of the House (29 March) — House of Commons, 2019-03-28
Topic: Other
Alexander Morrison Carmichael (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Can you clarify—or perhaps somebody on the Treasury Bench can—whether the Prime Minister resigns if she wins tomorrow or whether she has to get both parts before we see the back of her?
National Security Council Leak — House of Commons, 2019-05-02
Topic: Mixed Topics
Alexander Morrison Carmichael (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): The Prime Minister may or may not be right, and as far as the Government are concerned, her exchange of letters yesterday is the end of the matter, but surely when it comes to matters in this House, different considerations apply. The right hon. Member for South Staffordshire (Gavin Williamson) and the Prime Minister are both Members of the House, and they now have very different versions of events in relation to a matter of some national importance. It is surely important that the House should know which of them is right. For that reason, surely either the Prime Minister has to publish the evidence on which she relied, or somebody else has to be allowed to mark her homework. It cannot be possible that both mutually contradictory versions can be allowed to stand.
European Union (Withdrawal) Act — House of Commons, 2019-03-12
Topic: Other
John Vincent Cable (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): On a point of order, Mr Speaker. With your vast knowledge of parliamentary precedent and history, can you identify a single case, say since the American war of independence, in which a Prime Minister has twice been defeated—[Interruption.]
European Union (Withdrawal) Act — House of Commons, 2019-03-12
Topic: Mixed Topics
John Vincent Cable (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): I asked for precedent of a Prime Minister surviving two humiliating defeats, but being unwilling to change policy. Since we on the Liberal Democrat Benches are willing to offer an olive branch to embrace policies that she has so far rejected, will she accept the offer of friendship to do so?
Household Incomes — House of Commons, 2019-06-19
Topic: Mixed Topics
Questions: Does the Secretary of State realise that people on universal credit automatically lose 63% of those tax benefits? That is contributing to the fact that more than 34,000 tenants on universal credit in Scotland now owe over £21 million in rent arrears, an average of £644. Will he look at the impact of universal credit on Scottish people, and particularly those in low-income households?
Jamie Hume Stone (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): I note what the Secretary of State says about taxation. However, people living in remote parts of the UK, such as my constituency, are paying crippling delivery charges for goods. Would we not help the income of those families by tackling this serious problem?
Businesses: Late Payments — House of Commons, 2019-06-19
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Chuka Harrison Umunna (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): I thank the Minister for advance sight of her statement. She talked about the challenges facing small businesses. Brexit, of course, will cause huge disruption to small businesses’ supply chains given the added bureaucracy and tariffs This statement on late payments is welcome, but may I ask the Minister again the specific question put by the Chair of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee, the hon. Member for Leeds West (Rachel Reeves)? Why not make the prompt payment code mandatory—compulsory for large businesses? Why is there is further delay with consultations and what have you? She should make it mandatory, as we have been arguing for.
EU Parliament Elections: Denial of Votes — House of Commons, 2019-06-04
Topic: Mixed Topics
Thomas Anthony Brake (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): We see shocking complacency from the Minister and a complete denial of any Government responsibility for this shambles. A number of MPs—me included—raised these concerns in advance of the election, saying that EU citizens were going to be disenfranchised. And sure enough they were, as they were in the EU referendum. Is the Minister aware of legal advice that says that the use of the UC1 form is discriminatory, and will he—he has not yet answered this question—support calls for an inquiry into this shambles and the Government’s role in it?
Illegal Seaborne Migration — House of Commons, 2019-06-04
Topic: Immigration
Edward Jonathon Davey (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): It is good to hear the Minister accept that the best way to prevent refugees from taking these dangerous crossings is to provide safe, legal routes to sanctuary for those fleeing persecution. Going back to the Dubs amendment, the Government promised two years ago to provide a scheme for 480 unaccompanied refugee children. When will that promise be delivered?
Immigration — House of Commons, 2019-06-26
Topic: Immigration
Christine Anne Jardine (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): As part of that change in policy, would the hon. Gentleman agree that we have to look at lifting the ban on genuine asylum seekers being able to work and contribute to the economy of the country, rather than forcing them to live on a pittance and not giving them the dignity they deserve?
Immigration — House of Commons, 2019-06-26
Topic: Immigration
Christine Anne Jardine (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): The hon. Gentleman is making a very important point. I want to mention something that recently came to my attention at a surgery. A former EU national who is now a British citizen is concerned about the implications for them, if we leave the European Union, of the way in which the immigration laws have been written. Even though the settled status scheme might seem unclear, the situation is not clear for those who have already taken out citizenship either.
Medical Cannabis under Prescription — House of Commons, 2019-05-20
Topic: Other
Norman Peter Lamb (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): What did Ministers do after the right hon. Gentleman made that point in Westminster Hall? He says that that was four years ago. Why did it take until last year for the Government to do anything?
Election Candidates: Disabilities — House of Commons, 2019-03-13
Topic: Civil Rights
Jamie Hume Stone (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): Perhaps I should declare an interest, in that my wife is disabled and I have been glad of her support in my elections in the past. At the recent snap election, we faced an issue with access to voting stations; sometimes a school would be declared unsuitable because repairs were being carried out and another place had to be found for a voting station. Sometimes disabled access was an issue. What are the Government doing to make sure that it is made as easy as possible for disabled people to get in there and cast their vote?
UK’s Withdrawal from the European Union — House of Commons, 2019-03-13
Topic: Other
John Vincent Cable (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Now that the House has given effect to its will so clearly on separate occasions, can you give us the benefit of your help and advice as to how to translate these declaratory motions into practical action?
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government — House of Commons, 2019-07-02
Topic: Mixed Topics
Layla Michelle Moran (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): When I was a candidate, I, too, fought against these cuts, particularly those to children’s services. As the hon. Gentleman knows, I am a teacher, and I was seeing the effect the cuts would have. Interestingly, when we look at the data, we see that some of that was meat that could have been trimmed off. [Interruption.] Let me finish. [Interruption.] Just look at the transcripts from the Select Committee on Housing, Communities and Local Government. In 2012-13, there was an increase in efficiency, but I will concede that after that point the cuts should have stopped. The point of today’s debate is to move forwards. Having been elected in 2017, I hope the hon. Gentleman will join me in looking forwards and not backwards.
Climate Change — House of Commons, 2019-06-06
Topic: Mixed Topics
Thomas Anthony Brake (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): Will the Minister say a bit more in relation to climate change and trade policy, particularly vis-à-vis the US, because the President of the United States has said: "The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive"?
Severe Disability Premium — House of Commons, 2019-05-07
Topic: Immigration
Christine Anne Jardine (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): Does this latest botched attempt not underline that one reason why the Government are having trouble with universal credit is that it was primarily designed as a work-related benefit and that it continually misses out the people who need it most? Will the Government now re-table the managed migration regulations without the hard stop?
Bombardier — House of Commons, 2019-05-07
Topic: Housing
Thomas Anthony Brake (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): I accept that there is not very much the Government can do, but will the Minister set out what it might be possible to do in terms of identifying or facilitating the identification of any new buyer? On retraining, although hopefully that will not be necessary, what sort of package might the Government be willing to put in place if it does prove necessary in future?
Places of Worship: Security Funding — House of Commons, 2019-05-07
Topic: Civil Rights
Edward Jonathon Davey (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): I thank the Home Secretary strongly for his statement, especially in the light of the horrific attacks on mosques in Christchurch, churches across Sri Lanka and the synagogue in San Diego. I strongly welcome his words on hate crime, on which we need to take more action. Will he confirm for the House that all faith communities across the UK will be eligible to apply for this package of funding and support? Will account be taken of specific threats against particular communities, such as the Jewish community or the Ahmadi Muslim community, when applications are made?
Speaker’s Statement — House of Commons, 2019-03-18
Topic: Civil Rights
Thomas Anthony Brake (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): On a point of order, Mr Speaker. First, are you able to update the House on any sanctions that might have been applied since 1604 to any Governments who have sought to re-table the same motion, and what such sanctions are available to you today? Over a number of months, we have tabled a succession of amendments in relation to a people’s vote, and I want your reassurance and clarification that there is nothing in what you have said that precludes our pressing another amendment on the matter of a people’s vote.
Far-right Violence and Online Extremism — House of Commons, 2019-03-18
Topic: Civil Rights
Edward Jonathon Davey (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): I send, on behalf of the Liberal Democrats, sincere condolences to the victims, their families and all the people of New Zealand. We stand in unity with them and with all our Muslim brothers and sisters across the world Will the Minister condemn without reservation Islamophobic language, whether used by individuals or in the media? The Liberal Democrats have looked at the proposed definition of Islamophobia from the all-party parliamentary group on British Muslims, and we think that it is a very good one and have adopted it. Will the Government do likewise?
Article 50 Extension Procedure — House of Commons, 2019-03-18
Topic: Other
Thomas Anthony Brake (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): The Minister says that he answers questions in the way he sees fit, but I think the House would say that that is not at all. If he cannot think of a reason for a long extension, who does he expect to come up with one?
Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill — House of Commons, 2019-06-25
Topic: Mixed Topics
Wera Benedicta Hobhouse (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): The hon. Lady is very generous and we do have the luxury of a proper debate. Does she not accept that a marriage takes two and the tragedy is always when one side feels something has irretrievably broken down? It is a tragedy, but it is at the heart of why it is difficult to keep something going when one side clearly does not feel they can keep it going. For that reason, this change in the law is very welcome.
Parental Involvement in Teaching: Equality Act — House of Commons, 2019-06-25
Topic: Civil Rights
Thomas Anthony Brake (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): I apologise for not being here for the earlier part of the debate, but I am pleased to have arrived in time to hear the hon. Members for Wallasey (Ms Eagle), for Cardiff South and Penarth (Stephen Doughty) and for Rhondda (Chris Bryant), who encouraged me to stay to the end I have a specific follow-up question on the point raised by the hon. Member for Wallasey. What, precisely, are the Government able to do to counter what appears to be an organised campaign? For instance, can the Minister provide materials to Members of Parliament, such as me, who are now getting representations on this issue from, in my case, a local mosque?
Refugee Family Reunion — House of Commons, 2019-06-10
Topic: Immigration
John Vincent Cable (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): Ministers will recall that last July the other House passed the Refugees (Family Reunion) Bill overwhelmingly but that it was not introduced here because of lack of parliamentary time. Since parliamentary time no longer appears so scarce, will the Minister introduce it here to help reunite families, many of whom are divided by some very rigid and inflexible rules?
Grenfell: Government Response — House of Commons, 2019-06-10
Topic: Housing
Thomas Anthony Brake (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): The Secretary of State has been asked on a number of occasions whether he would be willing to name and shame private landlords who do not take the action necessary. Will he confirm whether he is willing to do that, and if so when, to put pressure on them to take action and make that unnecessary? Secondly, I do not want him to comment on the legal case being launched by the Grenfell survivors against Arconic, Celotex and Whirlpool in the US, but what role, if any, does he see the Government playing in relation to that case?
Ford in Bridgend — House of Commons, 2019-06-10
Topic: Mixed Topics
Thomas Anthony Brake (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): The Secretary of State has quoted Ford’s Europe chairman, Steven Armstrong, so may I quote him back to the Secretary of State? He said: "We’ve been very consistent since the referendum that a hard Brexit, a no-deal Brexit, would be a disaster" So does the Secretary of State believe that loose talk about delivering no deal by leading Tory leadership contenders damages the UK car industry or assists it? Does he think that if the Chancellor has a Brexit war chest, it should be spent on investing in the UK car industry, including in electric vehicles, rather than on tax cuts for the wealthy, as some are advocating in their leadership campaigns?
Climate Change, the Environment and Global Development — House of Commons, 2019-07-10
Topic: Mixed Topics
Wera Benedicta Hobhouse (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): I thank the hon. Lady for giving way again; she is being very generous. I am not anti-business. My family runs businesses, and I understand how business works. They need to have the right incentives. When I talk to those in the car industry, they say that the Government need to send a strong message out to the industry and investors about where they are going, and currently they are failing to do that.
European Council — House of Commons, 2019-03-25
Topic: Mixed Topics
John Vincent Cable (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): Those of us who were among the 1 million on Saturday naturally regret that both the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition were too busy to join us. Does she agree with the observation of her Chancellor that such a referendum is a "perfectly coherent proposition"?
European Council — House of Commons, 2019-03-25
Topic: Civil Rights
Christine Anne Jardine (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): The Prime Minister has told this House on numerous occasions that she is committed to delivering on the will of the people as it was expressed almost three years ago. However, given that 1 million people took to the streets at the weekend, that more than 5 million have signed a petition, and that anyone who has ever sat on these Benches knows that the will of the British people can change, does the Prime Minister not agree the time has come to check whether the will of the people has in fact changed and whether they want something different from what they wanted two and a half years ago?
European Union (Withdrawal) Act — House of Commons, 2019-03-25
Topic: Civil Rights
Christine Anne Jardine (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): I am impressed with the hon. Lady’s points. Does she agree that the way to overcome the sense of betrayal that the vote was misleading, or that the work had not been done and the people did not get what they bargained for is to go back to the people once we have decided on something and ask, "Is this what you wanted?"
European Union (Withdrawal) Act — House of Commons, 2019-03-25
Topic: Other
John Vincent Cable (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): On a point of order, Mr Speaker. This evening the House has made a major constitutional innovation. In order that it can be a success and that Wednesday is both orderly and meaningful, would you now establish a business committee of the main parties and those who brought forward these proposals in order to organise these events?
Overseas Students: English Language Tests — House of Commons, 2019-04-30
Topic: Immigration
Jamie Hume Stone (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): I echo the very decent sentiments that have been expressed by Members in all parts of the House regarding our horror for the innocent students who are caught up in this trap. I have been here for two years and I am not an expert in home affairs, but there does seem to be a bit of a case history with the Home Office. We have had misfortunes and carelessness, and now we have this. Is now not the time for the Government to seriously consider taking responsibility for immigration, and all we are talking about today, and putting it into a separate Government Department where Ministers can concentrate solely on that?
Article 50 Extension — House of Commons, 2019-03-20
Topic: Other
Wera Benedicta Hobhouse (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): Does the right hon. and learned Gentleman not find it extremely regrettable that the Government’s strategy on such an important issue for the nation is to bamboozle everybody, so that nobody knows what was meant or what was said?