argyrotsipi/train-dataset huggingface dataset:
Human Rights Legislation — House of Commons, 2021-12-14
Topic: Civil Rights
Dominic Rennie Raab (Conservative, Centre-right): I think this is the first time that a consultation document has been put forward to the House of Commons. The hon. Gentleman is right that it has been much debated; we are now taking action. I am afraid that I disagree with him: we are very much focused on protecting and strengthening our tradition of freedom, of which I have given freedom of speech as an example Frankly, the hon. Gentleman has a choice to make. He can sit back and bask in the generalities of what he has said, or he can recognise, as the former Home Secretary and architect of the Human Rights Act does, that there has been abuse of the system and that if we reform and take our responsibilities in this House seriously, we can make a change for the better and introduce some much-needed common sense.
Human Rights Legislation — House of Commons, 2021-12-14
Topic: Mixed Topics
Dominic Rennie Raab (Conservative, Centre-right): Of course we live up to our international obligations, and it is precisely partly the aim of these reforms to protect the bespoke, tailored approach to primary legislation when it comes to protecting the most vulnerable in our society, including through the Children Act.
Human Rights Legislation — House of Commons, 2021-12-14
Topic: Civil Rights
Dominic Rennie Raab (Conservative, Centre-right): We are very confident that the proposals that we have put forward, given the passage of time, are ECHR-compliant. The hon. Gentleman talks about being friends with dictatorial countries. Frankly, this reform will be about restoring some common sense and some credibility to human rights in this country. He asks whose side we are on. We are on the side of the British public, and he should get on board.
Human Rights Legislation — House of Commons, 2021-12-14
Topic: Civil Rights
Dominic Rennie Raab (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank the hon. Gentleman. Of course there are provisions for non-discrimination in the ECHR, but also in UK law. This reform will allow us to strengthen the protections that we in this House provide, including the hon. Gentleman, and make sure that they are not whittled away, not undermined, and not revised through a combination of section 2, section 3 and the other provisions of the Human Rights Act.
Public Health — House of Commons, 2021-12-14
Topic: Other
Sajid Javid (Conservative, Centre-right): I of course understand the importance of my right hon. Friend’s question; as he said, he asked it yesterday and, understandably, has asked it again today. I hope he will understand that I am not able to give that commitment alone; it would not be a decision for me and my Department alone, but I know the Government would consider it together seriously.
Public Health — House of Commons, 2021-12-14
Topic: Other
Andrew William Murrison (Conservative, Centre-right): Might the Secretary of State consider going a little further? Since the data is changing all the time—almost by the minute—it is inconceivable that in a week’s time and a week after that we will be in the same place that we are in today. This House needs to consider the information available to it in near real time, so will he go away and consider whether it would be appropriate now to ensure that the House is able to consider these matters for sure next week and the week after that?
Public Health — House of Commons, 2021-12-14
Topic: Other
Sajid Javid (Conservative, Centre-right): I will consider that. My right hon. Friend is right to point out that this is a fast-moving situation and it is right that the Government continue to monitor it and respond when necessary, but I hope my right hon. Friend will agree that right here and now the matter being debated and the regulation before the House is the best possible response that can be given by this Parliament today.
Public Health — House of Commons, 2021-12-14
Topic: Other
Sajid Javid (Conservative, Centre-right): What I think we need to do are the measures that are in front of the House today, and I hope the House will support them. I think those are the most important measures we can take right now.
Public Health — House of Commons, 2021-12-14
Topic: Mixed Topics
Alec Shelbrooke (Conservative, Centre-right): Building on the point from my hon. Friend the Member for North West Leicestershire (Andrew Bridgen), which my right hon. Friend says he is about to expand on, the question is: when will we know whether omicron gives severe or mild disease? If it is mild, how quickly could the decision be made that this would be an advantage to get rid of delta and to get herd immunity while it does not create strong disease?
Public Health — House of Commons, 2021-12-14
Topic: Other
Steven John Baker (Conservative, Centre-right): I am grateful, and I think my views on this are pretty well understood. Given the case the Secretary of State is setting out, one thing I am puzzled by is why he is only going as far as he is. Will he explain to us why, in his estimation, the measures he is taking are equal to the situation that he is describing?
Public Health — House of Commons, 2021-12-14
Topic: Mixed Topics
Sajid Javid (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend did raise that point yesterday. It is being looked at very urgently. I am sure he will agree that if it is done, it should be done in a safe way that our regulators are happy with. I can confidently say that I expect an urgent update later today as soon as I leave this Chamber.
Public Health — House of Commons, 2021-12-14
Topic: Other
Andrew James Bridgen (Conservative, Centre-right): The Secretary of State knows that I have been short all my life. He said earlier that the average age in South Africa was 27.5 years. I fear that he may have mis-spoken or been badly advised. In fact, the median age in South Africa is 27.5 and the comparative median age in the UK is 40.5—not radically different.
Public Health — House of Commons, 2021-12-14
Topic: Mixed Topics
Ruth Rosamond Edwards (Conservative, Centre-right): Many of my constituents have contacted me concerned that the measures today are the first step in further restrictions on social gatherings and businesses. Will my right hon. Friend assure them that that is not the case and that, if we can rescind the measures before 26 January, we will?
Public Health — House of Commons, 2021-12-14
Topic: Mixed Topics
Sajid Javid (Conservative, Centre-right): The point about managed quarantine and those people who are already in it is important. I am told that the practice in the past was to require them to complete their quarantine period, but I understand the importance of the point. I have asked for urgent advice about what that means. I hope to add to that very soon.
Public Health — House of Commons, 2021-12-14
Topic: Immigration
Karl McCartney (Conservative, Centre-right): Referring back to the point made by the right hon. Member for Exeter (Mr Bradshaw), it is crazy that people who have been in self-isolation are going to have to remain there due to the 11 countries that have not been removed from the red list. Surely they should not only be released from their incarceration but reimbursed for the astronomical amount of fees they have had to pay.
Public Health — House of Commons, 2021-12-14
Topic: Other
Eleanor Fulton Laing (Conservative, Centre-right): Before I call the shadow Secretary of State, it might be helpful for the House to know there will be an immediate time limit of five minutes on Back-Bench speeches, which will reduce later in the afternoon.
Public Health — House of Commons, 2021-12-14
Topic: Other
Eleanor Fulton Laing (Conservative, Centre-right): Order. Let me just make this clear: more than 40 people wish to speak this afternoon and if people make interventions, it is simply not fair on those at the end of the list who will be trying to speak later on. The hon. Lady is only one of many. The shadow Secretary of State is being very fair, as was the Secretary of State, in answering all the questions, but I must ask people to be reasonable.
Public Health — House of Commons, 2021-12-14
Topic: Other
Sara Alice Britcliffe (Conservative, Centre-right): Does the hon. Gentleman agree that one thing that will reassure Members across the House is a commitment from the Government at the Dispatch Box that, if further restrictions were to come into play, a vote will be had in this House?
Public Health — House of Commons, 2021-12-14
Topic: Civil Rights
Richard Grosvenor Plunkett-Ernle-Erle-Drax (Conservative, Centre-right): Let me start by sympathising with the Prime Minister and those on the Front Bench. These are not easy matters, and I appreciate that decisions on restricting our freedoms are not taken lightly. However, I am an independent-minded Back Bencher and I would not be doing my job if I did not question Government policy and vote against it when I think it is wrong. I shall oppose the measure on the wearing of masks, vote for self-isolation, vote against what will be vaccine passports in all but name, and vote against mandating inoculation for NHS workers when lateral flow testing would retain much-needed staff Previous speakers have asked whether these further laws will be effective. Whether they are or not is not as much of an issue for me as how we as a nation want to live our lives. Do we want to fear more restrictions every time a new variant appears, as it will? No is my answer. Do we want to damage our economy and all within it every time a new variant appears? No is my answer. Is working from home when I can enter a packed pub the right approach? [Hon. Members: "No!"] No is my answer. Do we want to shut down schools and universities and further ruin young people’s lives? [Hon. Members: "No!"] No is the answer. Do we want to restrict people’s movement and tell them what they can and cannot do when there is no evidence to suggest this would work? [Hon. Members: "No!"] No is the answer. Do we want to see hundreds of thousands of NHS patients waiting, some in agony, because their operations have been delayed again? [Hon. Members: "No!"] No is the answer. Do we want to see the hospitality and retail sectors collapse because we keep instilling the fear of God into their customers? [Hon. Members: "No!"] No is the answer. Do we want to go on spending taxpayers’ money on this eye-watering and unaffordable scale? [Hon. Members: "No!"] No is the answer. Finally—my hon. Friend the Member for Gloucester (Richard Graham) in front of me can now relax—do we want the state to give us back our lives and freedom? A monumental yes is the cry from many a heart I had hoped to hear the Secretary of State say at the Dispatch Box this afternoon something along the lines of, "Keep calm and carry on." I had hoped that the Government would stop bringing in all these laws criminalising the people of England for breaking rules that it seems many cannot follow. This is not the way to win trust and confidence. The way forward is to advise, suggest, encourage and take people into the Government’s confidence. It is time to put fear to one side, put our shoulders back and get on with our lives.
Human Rights Day — House of Commons, 2021-12-14
Topic: Civil Rights
Kate Elizabeth Kniveton (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank the hon. Lady for calling this important debate. I personally have been overwhelmed by the number of supportive messages I have received over the weekend since my story became public. Every one of them has been encouraging, and many have shared their own harrowing stories with me. I know that every campaign, every debate and every story that becomes public gives strength and hope to other women, and perhaps the courage that they need to seek help. Does the hon. Lady agree that belief and support from others have a crucial role in addressing gender-based violence?
UK Ports: Prevention of Disruption over Christmas Period — House of Commons, 2021-12-07
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Lucy Claire Leigh (Frazer) (Conservative, Centre-right): My right hon. Friend makes an important point. The Government and HMRC have taken significant action to ensure that hauliers and carriers are ready. HMRC has weekly meetings with strategic operators. It has conducted webinars for well over 1,000 haulage businesses and it sends monthly emails to more than 14,000 hauliers on the next steps. I appreciate that it might be that big businesses are more ready than small businesses, but we have done work there as well. I am very pleased to have met the Federation of Small Businesses about two weeks ago to discuss these issues.
Economic Inequality — House of Commons, 2021-12-07
Topic: Mixed Topics
Gareth Mark Davies (Conservative, Centre-right): Does my right hon. Friend agree that one of the best ways in which we can reduce inequality is by ensuring that young people are equipped with the skills that they need to succeed, wherever they live? That is why the additional £126 million of funding for work placements and training is so important for young people in Grantham and Stamford.
Economic Inequality — House of Commons, 2021-12-07
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Kevin Paul Hollinrake (Conservative, Centre-right): Regional mutual banks are a feature of all the other G7 economies, which have much lower levels of regional inequality. They are key to the provision of small and medium-sized enterprise finance. We have a number around the UK that are ready to go, led by experienced professionals; all they need is some pump-prime funding. Will my right hon. Friend agree to meet me to discuss this very exciting policy area?
Economic Inequality — House of Commons, 2021-12-07
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Rishi Sunak (Conservative, Centre-right): I am always delighted to meet my hon. Friend and neighbour, and if we could do that in north Yorkshire, it would be fantastic. He is right—as he always is—to champion the need for small and medium-sized enterprises to have access to the finance that they need, and if he has come up with yet another idea to ensure that that happens, I should be delighted to learn more.
High-skilled Jobs: Young People — House of Commons, 2021-12-07
Topic: Mixed Topics
Mohammad Saqib Bhatti (Conservative, Centre-right): Last month when I presented awards at the Crimson Academy apprenticeship awards event, I met some incredibly talented apprentices who were raring to go and get into the world of work. Will my right hon. and learned Friend join me in congratulating them, and will she confirm that apprenticeships are a great way for young people to obtain high-skilled jobs that can help to bridge the UK skills gap?
Red Diesel Fuel: Planned Tax Changes — House of Commons, 2021-12-07
Topic: Public Lands
Questions: What recent assessment he has made of the potential effect of the planned tax changes to red diesel fuel on (a) employment and (b) profitability within the UK construction industry.
Matthew Robert Warman (Conservative, Centre-right): I fully support the Government’s push towards net zero. Drainage boards do vital work to protect people, businesses and livelihoods from flood risk. Does the Minister agree that as they come to set their budgets it is vital that the Government provide assurance that their work will not be affected by changes to red diesel duty?
Self-employed People: Covid-19 Support Schemes — House of Commons, 2021-12-07
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Questions: What recent assessment he has made of the availability of (a) mortgages and (b) credit for self-employed people who utilised the Government’s covid-19 support schemes.
John Philip Glen (Conservative, Centre-right): Previous receipt of covid-19 support should not, in and of itself be a barrier to credit provided that the applicant meets the lender eligibility criteria. It remains important that lenders carry out checks to ensure that they do not lend to individuals in an unaffordable way.
Self-employed People: Covid-19 Support Schemes — House of Commons, 2021-12-07
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Questions: What recent assessment he has made of the availability of (a) mortgages and (b) credit for self-employed people who utilised the Government’s covid-19 support schemes.
John Philip Glen (Conservative, Centre-right): The Government have worked with the Financial Conduct Authority and we will continue to work with it and with credit agencies to ensure that those payment holidays have no impact on borrowers’ credit ratings. However, the checks that banks and financial institutions undertake need to reflect changes to individuals’ income. We do not seek to involve ourselves in commercial decisions. The mortgage lending rates to the self-employed are in line with those overall for the self-employed, but of course I will continue to work with the banks and financial institutions, and the regulators, to keep the situation under review.
Levelling Up: National Retrofit Strategy for Homes — House of Commons, 2021-12-07
Topic: Housing
Questions: What fiscal assessment he has made of the potential merits of a national retrofit strategy for homes as part of the Government’s levelling-up agenda.
Helen Olivia Bicknell Whately (Conservative, Centre-right): The Government’s heat and building strategy announced £3.9 billion of funding to decarbonise buildings over the next three years. This included £1.8 billion of support for low income households. I am sure that my hon. Friend will be pleased to hear that her constituency was recently allocated £5.2 million to retrofit low-income homes.
Levelling Up: National Retrofit Strategy for Homes — House of Commons, 2021-12-07
Topic: Housing
Questions: What fiscal assessment he has made of the potential merits of a national retrofit strategy for homes as part of the Government’s levelling-up agenda.
Helen Olivia Bicknell Whately (Conservative, Centre-right): The green homes grant and its associated scheme for the Chancellor’s plan for jobs saw £1.75 billion invested in improving more than 100,000 homes. We are now bringing in a more targeted replacement, the home upgrade grant, to support low-income households, and that received £950 million at the spending review. We will continue to support low-income households to ensure that they become more energy efficient, which is good for keeping bills down and an important part of our net zero transition.
Regional Growth — House of Commons, 2021-12-07
Topic: Mixed Topics
Simon Richard Clarke (Conservative, Centre-right): Levelling up is the core mission of this Government. At the autumn Budget we announced the first awards from the £4.8 billion levelling-up fund, together with £5.7 billion for transport investment in eight city regions and £3.8 billion for investment in skills over this Parliament. Our levelling up White Paper will be published in January.
Regional Growth — House of Commons, 2021-12-07
Topic: Mixed Topics
Simon Richard Clarke (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Lady raises a really important point: the western gateway is a phenomenally important part of our wider UK growth package. I engaged closely with it last year when I was the Minister for Regional Growth and Local Government and I am always happy to support its work. The western gateway has equal standing alongside the northern powerhouse and the midlands engine. I can certainly confirm that I and, indeed, Ministers in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities are always happy to engage substantively with the hon. Lady and with the leadership of local authorities in that area.
Regional Growth — House of Commons, 2021-12-07
Topic: Mixed Topics
Simon Richard Clarke (Conservative, Centre-right): Skills are at the heart of our wider work on levelling up, which is why £3.8 billion has been allocated throughout the course of this Parliament to make sure we get the right skills for the right people in the right sectors, so that we can grow the economy in the way that is needed. I warmly commend what is going on in my right hon. Friend’s constituency, because it is precisely that kind of work that will ensure that jobs and growth really level up opportunity throughout the country.
Inflation: Living Standards — House of Commons, 2021-12-07
Topic: Mixed Topics
John Philip Glen (Conservative, Centre-right): The Government very much recognise the challenge that people are facing, which is why we have introduced a range of interventions, including: the warm home discount; the household support fund, giving £500 million to local authorities to distribute; changes to the taper rate; and an increase in the national living wage. That range of interventions will help with the cost of living challenges, and will help many of the hon. Lady’s constituents.
Inflation: Living Standards — House of Commons, 2021-12-07
Topic: Mixed Topics
John Philip Glen (Conservative, Centre-right): I welcome the hon. Lady to the Front Bench. I draw her attention to the answer that I just gave concerning the number of interventions that the Government have made, including the warm home discount and additional support through local authorities. Households in the lowest income decile receive on average more than £4 in public spending for every £1 that they pay in tax. The Government are acutely sensitised to the challenges that we face this winter.
Pooled Client Bank Accounts: Guidance — House of Commons, 2021-12-07
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Kelly Jane Tolhurst (Conservative, Centre-right): Yacht brokers have been using pooled client accounts for years to protect large sums of their clients’ money, without issue. Changes to the guidance have meant that banks are now closing some of these accounts, putting some of these professional, long-established businesses at risk. Will my hon. Friend meet me, UK Finance, and the Association of Brokers and Yacht Agents, to find a solution quickly? This is an important sector of the economy for some of our coastal communities, such as my constituency.
Pooled Client Bank Accounts: Guidance — House of Commons, 2021-12-07
Topic: Domestic Commerce
John Philip Glen (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend knows a lot about this matter and the industry, and I take her concerns very seriously. Although the Government will never insist on individual lending decisions and behaviours of banks, we will engage closely. I will meet her, and the Association of Brokers and Yacht Agents, and I will write to UK Finance to ensure that the guidance that is posted is being used effectively in the circumstances that she has raised.
Pooled Client Bank Accounts: Guidance — House of Commons, 2021-12-07
Topic: Mixed Topics
John Philip Glen (Conservative, Centre-right): I draw the hon. Gentleman’s attention to the financial action taskforce report in December 2018 that gave the UK the best ever evaluation in terms of anti-money laundering. There are two or three areas where we have taken action.
Pooled Client Bank Accounts: Guidance — House of Commons, 2021-12-07
Topic: Mixed Topics
John Philip Glen (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Member keeps asking "Where is the register?" I will answer the question in a moment. What the Government have done is put in an additional £63 million in the last Budget to deal with Companies House reform, which is one of the areas. We have been the world’s leader in terms of common reporting standards. We were the first country, five years ago, to raise the standard in terms of transparency. We will implement that register when legislative time becomes available.