argyrotsipi/train-dataset huggingface dataset:
No-deal Brexit: Short Positions against the Pound — House of Commons, 2019-09-30
Topic: Macroeconomics
Craig Mackinlay (Conservative, Centre-right): I congratulate my hon. Friend on his new position. He is truly doing sterling work this afternoon. It will come as no surprise to him to learn that I am fully in favour of well-run and smooth capital markets, from which London is reaping an international reward. Would he care to speculate on what sort of short-selling and sterling damage would be done under the Labour party—given their unfunded tax proposals and their potential sequestration of public assets—and what the market would think of them if they were anywhere close to power, which I pray that they will not be?
No-deal Brexit: Short Positions against the Pound — House of Commons, 2019-09-30
Topic: Macroeconomics
Simon Richard Clarke (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend is absolutely right. I am afraid we cannot get around the fact that we are now dealing with something very dangerous in terms of the division between the two parties: the division between economic rationality and a programme that would well-nigh destroy the free-market economy in this country. [Interruption.] Labour Members scoff and sneer, but the reality is that anyone looking at the prognosis from the Labour party conference last week—let alone the trillions of pounds of commitments that Labour is now adding up—will see that it would not only destroy our public finances, but would do massive damage to the competitiveness of British business, on which jobs and homes and mortgages depend.
No-deal Brexit: Short Positions against the Pound — House of Commons, 2019-09-30
Topic: International Affairs
Simon Richard Clarke (Conservative, Centre-right): What I will say is that I believe we can avoid that scenario entirely if we get a good deal and leave the European Union according to plan, on 31 October. We are very clear about the fact that, in a scenario whereby we cannot get a deal through the House, we will deliver on the referendum mandate and leave the European Union. That is uncontested Government policy. We will ensure that we make the dynamic policy choices that will enable our economy to remain strong, robust and full of opportunity.
No-deal Brexit: Short Positions against the Pound — House of Commons, 2019-09-30
Topic: Macroeconomics
William Peter Wragg (Conservative, Centre-right): Would my hon. Friend care to comment on this splendid irony? Mr George Soros, who in 1992 made a fortune in short positions against the pound, is now one of the bankrollers of the Continuity Remain campaign.
No-deal Brexit: Short Positions against the Pound — House of Commons, 2019-09-30
Topic: International Affairs
Simon Richard Clarke (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank my hon. Friend for his question. Yes, I did vote for a deal on 29 March, and I did so because I feared losing Brexit altogether. I think that was a real risk at that point, and it remains a real risk now, thanks to the antics of the Opposition. If only all of Scotland was as well represented as those areas represented by the Scottish Conservatives, who of course have adopted a totally sensible and unifying position, which is that we should get on and deliver, as one country, what our one country voted for.
No-deal Brexit: Short Positions against the Pound — House of Commons, 2019-09-30
Topic: International Affairs
Simon Richard Clarke (Conservative, Centre-right): Actually, this is about democracy and whether we implement the result of a national referendum in which more than 34 million of our fellow citizens expressed their view. For my part, I intent to honour what they voted for. That is the position of this Government, and I think that view is shared by anybody who understands the damage that preventing our leaving the European Union would do to faith in democracy.
No-deal Brexit: Short Positions against the Pound — House of Commons, 2019-09-30
Topic: Macroeconomics
Adam Afriyie (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend is doing a great job on the Front Bench, to which we welcome him. This urgent question is deeply partisan and political—we all know that—but it strikes me that our economic growth looks pretty good this year. PwC also predicts pretty good economic growth. Just to negate the nonsense coming from the Opposition, can my hon. Friend tell me how well preparations are going for a no-deal exit?
No-deal Brexit: Short Positions against the Pound — House of Commons, 2019-09-30
Topic: Macroeconomics
Simon Richard Clarke (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend is absolutely right: the third quarter figures for the UK economy look very robust. Clearly, there is a lot to be said about the ongoing work to make sure that we are ready for a deal or no-deal scenario. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor delivered the spending review earlier this month and today he will give an excellent speech in Manchester, no thanks to the Opposition, setting out our plans for how we move forward. Clearly, we are deploying billions of pounds and the most robust plans available to make sure that we are ready to thrive in all scenarios.
No-deal Brexit: Short Positions against the Pound — House of Commons, 2019-09-30
Topic: Macroeconomics
Andrew James Bridgen (Conservative, Centre-right): Does my hon. Friend agree that speculation in the future movements of markets or currencies—some people think they will go up, others that they will go down—is a sign of a healthy free market economy, and that there is no speculation in the direction of travel of the shadow Chancellor’s favoured economic model in Venezuela, where the bolivar continues to crash, which is hardly surprising because inflation there is running at about 1 million per cent. this year?
No-deal Brexit: Short Positions against the Pound — House of Commons, 2019-09-30
Topic: Macroeconomics
Simon Richard Clarke (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend puts it with his customary robustness, but he is absolutely right that the real threat to the economy, to the strength of sterling, to our competitiveness and to jobs and living standards across the country would be a series of bad decisions made by a reckless, hard-left Labour Government.
No-deal Brexit: Short Positions against the Pound — House of Commons, 2019-09-30
Topic: Macroeconomics
Huw William Merriman (Conservative, Centre-right): In June, the Bank of England reported that, thanks to the mitigation and preparation put in place by the Government, any hit to GDP in the event of a no-deal Brexit would be reduced by two and a half percentage points. Will the Minister, whom I welcome to his position, confirm that we have had more preparation since then? That means we should be further protected, meaning these individuals will not make their money.
No-deal Brexit: Short Positions against the Pound — House of Commons, 2019-09-30
Topic: Macroeconomics
Simon Richard Clarke (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend is, of course, absolutely right that we are stepping up our preparations to cover all eventualities. That is why we made provision in the spending review, which was designed to ensure that we go into this autumn with the options open to us kept as wide as possible. Of course, it is also why the provisions of the surrender Act, which the Opposition brought forward against the will of this Government, are so unwise.
No-deal Brexit: Short Positions against the Pound — House of Commons, 2019-09-30
Topic: International Affairs
Simon Richard Clarke (Conservative, Centre-right): The Government do not take a view on this issue. [Interruption.] But what is clear is that the hon. Lady can avoid the outcome that she so wants to avoid, by voting for a deal when one is brought forward—that is, and always remains, the case. So we now need to move forward with some purpose, rather than with wild speculation, trying to smear the Government as somehow being in hock to these interests—it is not working. Any rational observer will see that this is not an argument that sustains itself.
No-deal Brexit: Short Positions against the Pound — House of Commons, 2019-09-30
Topic: International Affairs
Simon Richard Clarke (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Gentleman needs to recognise that our country is absolutely determined to leave the European Union on 31 October. Rather than trying to prevent that, and, in so doing, making no deal more likely, he should get behind the Government’s efforts to secure a good deal.
No-deal Brexit: Short Positions against the Pound — House of Commons, 2019-09-30
Topic: International Affairs
Simon Richard Clarke (Conservative, Centre-right): The Prime Minister has the moral courage to deliver on the referendum result, take our country forward, deliver what millions of people voted for and make our country a better place to live. If we are going to exchange quotes, let me quote a bit more from the article: "In short, there is no evidence that the hedge funds that have backed Johnson’s election campaign have ‘millions of pounds’ of speculative bets on no-deal Brexit. They have millions of pounds of speculative bets on UK companies, yes, but that is simply business as usual."
No-deal Brexit: Short Positions against the Pound — House of Commons, 2019-09-30
Topic: International Affairs
Simon Richard Clarke (Conservative, Centre-right): The Government are doing what they are doing because we believe it is right to leave the European Union on 31 October, as we all promised that we would. That is absolutely what animates our actions; any suggestion to the contrary is not just wrong but offensive.
No-deal Brexit: Short Positions against the Pound — House of Commons, 2019-09-30
Topic: International Affairs
Simon Richard Clarke (Conservative, Centre-right): Government policy is to leave the European Union with a deal, if at all possible, and that remains our central case. The hon. Gentleman’s question in many ways summarises the past few minutes, in so far as it does not get to the substantive point, which is that the only reason we are at risk of a no-deal exit is that we have not managed to persuade the Opposition that they should get behind our attempts to secure a better deal rather than seek constantly to undermine them.
Wrightbus (Ballymena) — House of Commons, 2019-09-30
Topic: Transportation
Julian Richard Smith (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend shares my desire to ensure that we get into a better place on this issue. Let me answer his questions in turn. On R&D and Government support more generally, the Government are making any potential bidders aware of what could be available, but, as he knows, this is a commercial process. It is being managed by an administrator, and many of the actions need to take place at a devolved level. None the less, we will continue—and I do continue—to speak actively to all stakeholders involved, and I am conducting meetings during the course of this week On buses more generally, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of Exchequer has made an announcement today to commit £220 million to buses in Great Britain, and there will be additional money for Northern Ireland coming out of that pot. We are also developing the national bus strategy, and I hope that both of those initiatives will mean that the market for buses and the opportunity for the excellent product produced in Ballymena by Wrightbus will be strong and will encourage investors to take the risk to develop the business further On the matter of the P45s, my understanding is that the administrator has now written to all employees to communicate the process going forward on redundancies and on the P45s. For the six workers who are currently in Malaysia, the administrator has now taken steps to get those workers home, and I stand ready to address and to help in any way any problems or issues on either of those matters.
Wrightbus (Ballymena) — House of Commons, 2019-09-30
Topic: Government Operations
Julian Richard Smith (Conservative, Centre-right): I do not think it would be appropriate for me to comment on the loan. On the question of how the absence of Stormont affects these jobs, yes, not having a devolved Executive is making a big difference, but between Invest NI, the Government, the Northern Ireland civil service and a campaigning and dedicated local MP, we are showing that we can get things done. I hope that we can get some positive news out of what is currently a very difficult situation.
Wrightbus (Ballymena) — House of Commons, 2019-09-30
Topic: Macroeconomics
Julian Richard Smith (Conservative, Centre-right): My experience in Northern Ireland from the two major issues I have been working on recently with regard to the economy—Harland and Wolff, and Wrightbus—is that the administration companies have been working very well with all stakeholders As with the Church loan, I do not think it is appropriate for me to comment on the matter of the land, other than to say that I urge anyone who can do anything to unlock the process of making a successful sale to a successful bidder and preserving jobs to do everything they can to be as flexible as possible On the matter of low emission buses and bus technology, Wrightbus is second to none in leading-edge bus technology, which is why I remain confident that we can get to a better position than we are currently in and we can protect jobs On the interrelationship between Brexit, Wrightbus, Harland and Wolff and Bombardier, I have made it clear since taking this role that it is in the best interests of Northern Ireland that we get a deal. That is what I am doing, and that is what the Prime Minister is doing.
Wrightbus (Ballymena) — House of Commons, 2019-09-30
Topic: Labor
Julian Richard Smith (Conservative, Centre-right): The important thing now is to protect jobs and to ensure that we get a successful buyer. There will be time enough to look back on what could have been done differently and what things need to improve.
Wrightbus (Ballymena) — House of Commons, 2019-09-30
Topic: Transportation
Michael Penning (Conservative, Centre-right): As I drove through London to the House today lots of Wrightbus buses were to be seen, bought by the excellent previous Conservative Mayor. One intervention that could go ahead and make the company viable to be sold is the London Mayor buying the right bus for London, which is Wrightbus.
Wrightbus (Ballymena) — House of Commons, 2019-09-30
Topic: Transportation
Julian Richard Smith (Conservative, Centre-right): I do not think it would be appropriate for me to make bus-buying recommendations, but I say again that the technology of Wrightbus and the energy at Wrightbus mean that there is a good future for it if we can get a successful buyer.
Wrightbus (Ballymena) — House of Commons, 2019-09-30
Topic: Transportation
John Simon Bercow (Conservative, Centre-right): Whether that is because the right hon. Gentleman does not judge himself to be a particular authority on bus-buying or because he regards reference to the matter as beneath the dignity of his undoubtedly high office—whichever it is—he has made his choice.
Wrightbus (Ballymena) — House of Commons, 2019-09-30
Topic: Transportation
Karen Anne Bradley (Conservative, Centre-right): It seems ironic on the day that announcements are made about money for new buses—I hope a significant amount of that money goes to my constituents in Staffordshire Moorlands—that we are here debating the going into administration of a bus manufacturer in Northern Ireland. Will my right hon. Friend join me in paying tribute to Sue Gray, the permanent secretary at the Department of Finance in Northern Ireland, who has worked tirelessly and I know will continue to do so to do all she can for the employees?
Wrightbus (Ballymena) — House of Commons, 2019-09-30
Topic: Transportation
Julian Richard Smith (Conservative, Centre-right): The £220 million announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer a few hours ago will be of benefit to all bus companies and will ensure that the market for buses in both GB and NI will continue to thrive.
Wrightbus (Ballymena) — House of Commons, 2019-09-30
Topic: Foreign Trade
Mark Andrew Menzies (Conservative, Centre-right): May I urge the Secretary of State to ensure that the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is working with not only Wrightbus but the Department for International Trade? As a trade envoy, I can testify to the fact that there is considerable interest in this bus in some of the high-density markets, particularly in Latin America, and with support from Government we might be able to get some of those deals over the line.
Wrightbus (Ballymena) — House of Commons, 2019-09-30
Topic: Transportation
Julian Richard Smith (Conservative, Centre-right): Through this process, I have become aware of the huge market for buses in South America. My hon. Friend is an exceptionally dynamic trade envoy, and I look forward to meeting him to discuss opportunities for Wrightbus buses if we can get a new buyer for them in the coming weeks.
Wrightbus (Ballymena) — House of Commons, 2019-09-30
Topic: Transportation
Julian Richard Smith (Conservative, Centre-right): The important message is to ensure that we get the best buyers for Wrightbus and Harland and Wolff. I do not have details on the technical aspects of the bus the hon. Lady mentions, but I think we should focus now on protecting jobs and supporting the local economy.
Wrightbus (Ballymena) — House of Commons, 2019-09-30
Topic: Transportation
Andrew Hanson Jones (Conservative, Centre-right): Like the hon. Member for North Antrim (Ian Paisley), I was very disappointed at this news from Wrightbus, as it is a manufacturer of quality products that I have driven and use daily—upon which you regularly comment, Mr Speaker. Can my right hon. Friend assure me that he will do everything he can to work with the Northern Irish civil service in the coming days to find a successful bidder, to ensure that the company can continue to manufacture quality products?
Wrightbus (Ballymena) — House of Commons, 2019-09-30
Topic: Transportation
Julian Richard Smith (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank my hon. Friend for his question and for all his work as a Transport Minister. The civil service in Northern Ireland is working very hard, Invest NI is working very hard and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is working very hard, as is the local MP, and they will continue to do that over the coming days and weeks.
Wrightbus (Ballymena) — House of Commons, 2019-09-30
Topic: Transportation
John Simon Bercow (Conservative, Centre-right): We daily learn more and more about the daring and distinguished exploits of the hon. Member for Harrogate and Knaresborough (Andrew Jones). I have regularly informed the House and those observing our proceedings that, when serving as Under-Secretary of State for buses, he was given to traveling to work by bus, to the obvious delight of his fellow passengers. What I did not know was that he was also in the business of driving buses. Is there any limit to the talents of the hon. Gentleman?
Wrightbus (Ballymena) — House of Commons, 2019-09-30
Topic: Transportation
Julian Richard Smith (Conservative, Centre-right): The technology and the opportunity for Wrightbus, with a successful buyer and with a vision for the future, are very strong. I think we have addressed the issue of loans and other matters that are for the future.
Wrightbus (Ballymena) — House of Commons, 2019-09-30
Topic: Transportation
Julian Richard Smith (Conservative, Centre-right): I agree with my right hon. Friend about the opportunity for Wrightbus and the technology it has. I think we are both agreed that the best resolution for Brexit is a deal at the end of October.
Wrightbus (Ballymena) — House of Commons, 2019-09-30
Topic: Macroeconomics
Julian Richard Smith (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend is right that there are certain powers that can be executed by the Department for the Economy, but the main powers reside with the Executive, which is why we want to get Stormont up and running. I pay tribute to the work he has done, working with the unions, potential investors and the administrator at Harland and Wolff, and I hope we will have some positive news during the course of this week.
Health Infrastructure Plan — House of Commons, 2019-09-30
Topic: Law and Crime
Edward John Comport Argar (Conservative, Centre-right): My right hon. Friend is right. In my previous role, I enjoyed a visit to her constituency to visit a prison with her and I am more than happy, although I am sure my officials will wince at the diary management involved, to take her up on her offer of a visit as well. She is exactly right: we are able to make this investment because, unlike the previous Labour Government, who left that note saying, "Sorry, there is no money", we have stewarded the national finances well and we now have the money to invest.
Health Infrastructure Plan — House of Commons, 2019-09-30
Topic: Education
Edward John Comport Argar (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend is absolutely right to highlight the need for access to facilities in his county, given its geography. I have been clear today, the Secretary of State has been clear and the Prime Minister has been clear in our commitment to the list of schemes that we have said will get the HIP 2 funding. I know that officials in my hon. Friend’s trust will be looking forward to working with him to develop their proposals.
Health Infrastructure Plan — House of Commons, 2019-09-30
Topic: Labor
Edward John Comport Argar (Conservative, Centre-right): I am grateful to the hon. Lady for her comments and for their tone. She is absolutely right to highlight the importance of the workforce. Investment in new, first-class buildings and in equipment is vital because they are the tools that the amazing workforce need to do their job. She highlights a specific point about pensions, particularly consultants’ pensions. As she will be aware, we have been looking at this, and the Secretary of State has recently launched a consultation more broadly on proposals to address the challenges on pensions taxation.
Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019 Section 7 — House of Commons, 2019-09-30
Topic: Government Operations
Julian Richard Smith (Conservative, Centre-right): I beg to move, That this House takes note of and approves the Report pursuant to Section 3(14) of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019 - Historical Institutional Abuse, which was laid before this House on Wednesday 4 September On 4 September, I laid a number of reports before the House in line with my obligations under the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019. Parliamentary business pressures meant that some of those reports were not debated earlier this month, but I am pleased to stand before the House today to underscore my commitment to make progress on these issues The reports emphasise what colleagues on both sides of the House have known for some time: the restoration of the Executive and the Assembly is of vital importance to the people of Northern Ireland. That is my top priority and I will continue to work with the Northern Ireland parties to meet that objective Without an Executive, the people of Northern Ireland have seen the quality of their public services decline and decisions that affect their day-to-day lives kicked into the long grass.
Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019 Section 7 — House of Commons, 2019-09-30
Topic: Government Operations
Julian Richard Smith (Conservative, Centre-right): My understanding is that a number of councils in Northern Ireland have put in place measures to deal with the issue, but as with many other issues that we are debating today, the absence of an Executive at Stormont is affecting all sorts of decisions, including that one.
Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019 Section 7 — House of Commons, 2019-09-30
Topic: International Affairs
Julian Richard Smith (Conservative, Centre-right): I agree with my hon. Friend’s summary of the work undertaken by the hon. Member for Swansea East (Carolyn Harris) on this issue. I would be very happy to meet her and others to discuss it. It is, again, up to the Northern Ireland Assembly, but let us meet and see how we can work further to move things forward.