argyrotsipi/train-dataset huggingface dataset:
Yemen — House of Commons, 2015-01-21
Topic: International Affairs
Richard Geoffrey James Ottaway (Conservative, Centre-right): I welcome the question of the right hon. Member for Leicester East (Keith Vaz) and agree with the sentiment contained in it, as well as with the Minister’s response. I welcome his tone. The Minister says that our embassy remains open, but can he assure me that if the situation deteriorates measures will be taken to get our staff out and to protect them? Finally, there are media reports about a connection between the Charlie Hebdo attack and the situation in Yemen. Is the Minister in a position to comment further on that?
Yemen — House of Commons, 2015-01-21
Topic: International Affairs
Tobias Martin Ellwood (Conservative, Centre-right): I am grateful to the Chairman of the Select Committee on Foreign Affairs for his question and the manner in which he asks it. He asks at what point we should evacuate the embassy. I will speak to the ambassador later today and evacuation plan is already in place, but it has not yet been activated. I will speak to the ambassador and ensure that the House is updated if the situation changes. He asked about the connections between al-Qaeda and the Charlie Hebdo attacks. It has been reported that there is a link and that the individuals were trained in Yemen. The French authorities are working on that and we are working closely with them to provide support in their endeavours.
Yemen — House of Commons, 2015-01-21
Topic: International Affairs
Tobias Martin Ellwood (Conservative, Centre-right): Saudi Arabia and many of the countries that neighbour Yemen have an interest in the country, particularly Saudi Arabia, which, as I have said, is co-chair of the Friends of Yemen. I will speak to the embassy in the next couple of days to take stock of the changes that are taking place. I will ask about any military engagement that might take place, but as I have said we call for all parties, whether they are in the country or not, to come together and return to the peace and national partnership agreement, to which the Saudi Arabians have also signed up.
Yemen — House of Commons, 2015-01-21
Topic: International Affairs
Alan James Carter Duncan (Conservative, Centre-right): I cannot praise too highly the bravery and work of our ambassador, her embassy personnel and DFID staff. I spoke last night to the Yemeni Prime Minister, who was trapped and besieged, and the danger is that Yemen will end up without a legitimate Government and will become ungoverned anarchic space, leading to unchecked terrorist training, civil war, proxy conflict and humanitarian disaster. The right hon. Member for Leicester East (Keith Vaz) is absolutely right to highlight the importance of this country. Will the Minister confirm that the United Kingdom will, as a matter of urgency and as a top diplomatic priority, work with all our Gulf allies, the United States and the United Nations to try to haul Yemen back from the brink of the cliff edge on which it rests?
Yemen — House of Commons, 2015-01-21
Topic: International Affairs
Tobias Martin Ellwood (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank the Prime Minister’s envoy to Oman and Yemen, particularly as he has kept me up to date over the past few days with his contacts and his thoughts and advice. He is absolutely correct that we do not want ungoverned space to develop in Yemen and with all the activities and challenges going on in the middle east, this area does not have the same profile as others. It has now moved up the agenda by virtue of this urgent question and it is important that we give assistance to the country to ensure that all parties come together, not only those in the country but those in the United Nations and the United States, to work towards a peaceful solution.
Yemen — House of Commons, 2015-01-21
Topic: International Affairs
Tobias Martin Ellwood (Conservative, Centre-right): First, may I thank the right hon. Gentleman, the Opposition spokesman, for the cross-party support on this? He speaks about the UK diaspora. It is important that it is informed and kept up to date with what is happening in the country. He also spoke about the role of the UN, and I wish to put on record my thanks to the UN special representative to the Secretary-General, Jamal Benomar, who I have met a number of times, including at the UN General Assembly in September, when UN resolution 2140, which the Opposition spokesman referred to, was agreed There is, as I have mentioned, a well-rehearsed evacuation plan. The number of Britons based in Yemen is minimal, and the embassy assures me that plan is ready to be activated if required, but that is not currently the case. My understanding is that the Yemeni Prime Minister is under house arrest. I have no further information on that at present. The right hon. Gentleman is right to underline the spoiling activities of AQAP, and that has already been underlined in the House. AQAP continues to undermine and harass the Government and to undertake targeted assassinations and mass bombings. This makes the situation ever more complex, with the Houthis moving in from the north-west The right hon. Gentleman spoke about the constitution and the referendum. They are the building blocks that lead us to a better political space, and they are part of the national partnership for peace agreement, which I mentioned in my opening remarks.
Yemen — House of Commons, 2015-01-21
Topic: International Affairs
Tobias Martin Ellwood (Conservative, Centre-right): I should make it clear that, historically, Yemen is a country that has never been broken down along sectarian lines and we hope that is not gong to be the case here. We remain firmly committed to supporting both the integrity of the Yemeni state and President Hadi’s elected Government to implement this peace agreement, along with all parties, including the Houthis.
Yemen — House of Commons, 2015-01-21
Topic: International Affairs
Tobias Martin Ellwood (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Gentleman raises two very important points. First, while this subject may not have had a high profile in the media, that does not mean it has been a low priority for the Foreign Office, the United States and the Friends of Yemen—including in our work with Saudi Arabia. It is of huge concern, but it has not been on the front pages Secondly, I agree that many of our constituents will be concerned about what is going on and for loved ones and friends. I advise the hon. Gentleman to encourage his constituents to look at the FCO website, where there will be updates and information on ways to get in touch with the Foreign Office desk. If there are any complications, I would ask him to get in touch with me personally and I will make sure that that communication link is established.
Yemen — House of Commons, 2015-01-21
Topic: International Affairs
Peter James Luff (Conservative, Centre-right): Mr Speaker, there is a considerable irony in the fact that this debate on the crisis in Yemen comes immediately after your welcome statement on the British experience of the rule of law and democracy. What financial assistance are the Government providing to help stabilise Yemen?
Yemen — House of Commons, 2015-01-21
Topic: International Affairs
Tobias Martin Ellwood (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend makes an important point about the British assistance being provided. We are working not only with the Friends of Yemen, but with the Deauville partnership of nations—a group that came together to support the countries that went through the Arab spring. We also have conflict pool money going into the country, and we are providing security assistance to the Yemeni armed forces. We provided over £173 million from 2011 to 2014, and then we committed a further £78 million for this year—2014-15. That funding comes from the development stabilisation programme.
Yemen — House of Commons, 2015-01-21
Topic: International Affairs
Tobias Martin Ellwood (Conservative, Centre-right): There is no doubt that Iran has influence in this area, and it can choose to be part of the solution or part of the problem. I very much hope it wants to be part of the solution and to play a helpful and productive role. It is no country’s interests to see Yemen descend into civil war On the embassy, we can either shout from afar and complain about behaviour, or we can have a far closer relationship and put these things directly to the country and the Government. That is the objective of reopening the embassy, when the agreement is finally signed.
Yemen — House of Commons, 2015-01-21
Topic: International Affairs
Robert John Blackman (Conservative, Centre-right): Further to that question on Iran, will the Minister update the House on what influence Iran can have over the Houthis to make sure they act in a positive way, so that we get a solution in Yemen that recognises democracy and the broad range of people who live within that state, and we ensure this coup comes to an end and people can live in peace?
Yemen — House of Commons, 2015-01-21
Topic: International Affairs
Tobias Martin Ellwood (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend makes an important point. It is important that all neighbouring countries that have any influence over the various parties involved in Yemen should exert that influence to encourage the warring factions to come back to the table. I hope that Iran will heed that advice, so that we can move towards getting the partnership agreement back in place.
Yemen — House of Commons, 2015-01-21
Topic: International Affairs
Tobias Martin Ellwood (Conservative, Centre-right): It is certainly important to show support for our embassy personnel, and the more we can go to these places and engage with people, the better. Given the security situation, however, and the travel advice telling all Britons not to go there, it would be inappropriate for me to turn up there myself.
National Health Service — House of Commons, 2015-01-21
Topic: Social Welfare
Sarah Louise Newton (Conservative, Centre-right): Today’s Age UK report contains aggregated England data. Does the right hon. Gentleman not agree that all over our country there are councils integrating social care with the NHS, and, indeed, increasing their social care budgets? Does he not recognise the good work that is going on in the integration pilots in Cornwall, for example?
National Health Service — House of Commons, 2015-01-21
Topic: Macroeconomics
Jeremy Richard Streynsham Hunt (Conservative, Centre-right): Because the only way we could return the economy to growth was by tackling the deficit left by the Labour party—the worst deficit in the developed world. Labour left us with that problem; we have sorted it out and are turning the country round. If the hon. Gentleman wants to increase spending on the NHS, as I do, the only way to do that is through a strong economy, which is what the Government are delivering.
National Health Service — House of Commons, 2015-01-21
Topic: Transportation
Steven John Baker (Conservative, Centre-right): Under the previous Government, my predecessor was not able to prevent the closure of A and E. If Labour is in government, I shall remember his speech today and the promise that was given to him, and I shall watch closely what happens.
National Health Service — House of Commons, 2015-01-21
Topic: Social Welfare
Chloe Rebecca Smith (Conservative, Centre-right): It is instructive, as always, to follow the hon. Member for Dudley North (Ian Austin), and I thank him for his exposition of the positions set out around the Chamber this afternoon. I also welcome the comments of my hon. Friend the Member for Wycombe (Steve Baker) in picking up on the needs of areas that might not normally be viewed as deprived, but that need attention none the less. Norwich is one such city, because it contains wards and areas of serious deprivation. I have argued on behalf of GP surgeries that serve those wards, and there is a genuine question about the way our national structures and funding serve those areas.
National Health Service — House of Commons, 2015-01-21
Topic: Social Welfare
Sarah Louise Newton (Conservative, Centre-right): I read the Age UK report with great interest, but the data, which the hon. Gentleman has cited, is aggregated information from across England. Not all local authorities are cutting social care. Some really good local authorities are coping with the reductions in funding from central Government, prioritising the needs of the most vulnerable people in their communities and finding innovative ways of working with the NHS and the voluntary sector to improve the self-reported well-being of the people they serve. It is not the blanket situation across the UK that he describes.
Prevention and Suppression of Terrorism — House of Commons, 2015-01-21
Topic: Law and Crime
James Peter Brokenshire (Conservative, Centre-right): With the leave of the House, and in thanking right hon. and hon. Members for their support for the order this evening, let me respond first to the shadow Minister, the hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull North (Diana Johnson). Yes, of course we are vigilant in seeking to combat the use of messages on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter or any other social media platform, including the new ones that appear. That is precisely why we have the counter-terrorism internet referral unit with which the hon. Lady will be familiar. It has taken down 72,000 individual items since it was established in 2010. She highlighted a video and the original has been removed, but it continues to be put up in different places. That is why we have the CTIRU to flag that and to work with industry to take it down The hon. Lady and other right hon. and hon. Members made a broader point about the role and responsibility of the internet industry. We are obviously flagging these items, but the industry has a responsibility to take action when it identifies such images. A number of companies do that, but there is more to be done for them to realise their responsibilities and take further action. Indeed, the Prime Minister’s comments on this subject after the publication of the Intelligence and Security Committee’s report on Woolwich identified that challenge and how we all need to do more. The social media companies and the internet industry certainly need to do more. I entirely endorse the comments made by the hon. Member for York Central (Sir Hugh Bayley) about working with communities. That is precisely the approach the Government take. We are seeking to ensure that we challenge ourselves on what more we can do and that is why the provisions in the Counter-Terrorism and Security Bill, which is currently in the other place, put on a statutory basis our work on counter-radicalisation and the Channel de-radicalisation programmes We are doing work in government, but there is also work in communities. Some incredible British Muslims are taking a stand and showing leadership, such as the 100 imams who wrote a letter condemning the actions of ISIL and groups such as Families Against Stress and Trauma. Through their programmes, there is an outlet that prevents people from being radicalised and going down that pathway. This is clearly a broader and wider debate. We have debated some of it on the Counter-Terrorism and Security Bill, but proscription can be an important way for the police to get further evidence, which can lead to prosecution of those who belong to groups that are not proscribed I am grateful to the House for the support it has shown this evening. I hope that we will remain vigilant, whether online, in communities or more broadly, to ensure that we do our utmost to protect our country and our citizens and to confound and confront those who would do us harm Question put and agreed to.
Business without Debate — House of Commons, 2015-01-21
Topic: Energy
Eleanor Fulton Laing (Conservative, Centre-right): With the leave of the House, we shall take motions 10 to 12 together Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), Energy That the draft Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2015, which were laid before this House on 15 December 2014, be approved That the draft Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2015, which were laid before this House on 15 December 2014, be approved That the draft Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme and Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2015, which were laid before this House on 15 December 2014, be approved.—(Mr Wallace.) Question agreed to.
EU Sanctions (Russia) — House of Commons, 2015-06-09
Topic: International Affairs
Questions: What his policy is on continuation of EU sanctions on Russia until that country complies in full with its obligations under the Minsk agreements.; What his policy is on continuation of EU sanctions on Russia until that country complies in full with its obligations under the Minsk agreements.
David Roy Lidington (Conservative, Centre-right): Sanctions were imposed because Russia invaded and annexed Crimea and intervened in eastern Ukraine. They can be rolled back when Russia has taken steps to comply with international law and its own commitments, starting with the full implementation of the Minsk agreements.
EU Sanctions (Russia) — House of Commons, 2015-06-09
Topic: International Affairs
Questions: What his policy is on continuation of EU sanctions on Russia until that country complies in full with its obligations under the Minsk agreements.; What his policy is on continuation of EU sanctions on Russia until that country complies in full with its obligations under the Minsk agreements.
Alec Shelbrooke (Conservative, Centre-right): The sanctions on the Russian regime are clearly starting to have an effect, but does my right hon. Friend agree that support for the democratically elected Government of Ukraine is also important? Will he describe the action that the Government are taking to support the democratically elected president, President Poroshenko, in moving forward to defend Ukraine from Russia?
EU Sanctions (Russia) — House of Commons, 2015-06-09
Topic: International Affairs
Questions: What his policy is on continuation of EU sanctions on Russia until that country complies in full with its obligations under the Minsk agreements.; What his policy is on continuation of EU sanctions on Russia until that country complies in full with its obligations under the Minsk agreements.
David Roy Lidington (Conservative, Centre-right): I completely agree with my hon. Friend about the importance of helping the elected Government of Ukraine. The United Kingdom has provided Ukraine with technical assistance to support economic and administrative reform as well as humanitarian aid and non-lethal military assistance. We stand ready to discuss with the Ukrainian Government what further ways we might be able to help them in their task.
EU Sanctions (Russia) — House of Commons, 2015-06-09
Topic: International Affairs
Questions: What his policy is on continuation of EU sanctions on Russia until that country complies in full with its obligations under the Minsk agreements.; What his policy is on continuation of EU sanctions on Russia until that country complies in full with its obligations under the Minsk agreements.
Stewart Jackson (Conservative, Centre-right): Will my right hon. Friend commit to working with the Defence Secretary to ensure that the toughest possible sanctions are applied to Russia until all the Minsk II protocols are met, and that Russia is aware that threats to Moldova and the Baltic states will result in the most severe repercussions?
EU Sanctions (Russia) — House of Commons, 2015-06-09
Topic: International Affairs
Questions: What his policy is on continuation of EU sanctions on Russia until that country complies in full with its obligations under the Minsk agreements.; What his policy is on continuation of EU sanctions on Russia until that country complies in full with its obligations under the Minsk agreements.
David Roy Lidington (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend is right to allude to the fact that sanctions can be strengthened as well as reduced. It all depends on what Russia chooses to do. We have demonstrated our strong commitment to our NATO allies in the Baltic states through our participation in air policing and NATO training exercises in that region, and our solidarity with them will certainly continue.
EU Sanctions (Russia) — House of Commons, 2015-06-09
Topic: International Affairs
Questions: What his policy is on continuation of EU sanctions on Russia until that country complies in full with its obligations under the Minsk agreements.; What his policy is on continuation of EU sanctions on Russia until that country complies in full with its obligations under the Minsk agreements.
David Roy Lidington (Conservative, Centre-right): I think it is generally accepted that there is not a military solution to the conflict in eastern Ukraine. That is why we are determined to continue with the diplomatic and political path on which we, together with our partners and allies, have embarked. We need to see the Minsk agreements implemented in full and, in particular, for the OSCE monitoring mission to be given access to the areas controlled by the separatists, which is still not happening.
EU Sanctions (Russia) — House of Commons, 2015-06-09
Topic: International Affairs
Questions: What his policy is on continuation of EU sanctions on Russia until that country complies in full with its obligations under the Minsk agreements.; What his policy is on continuation of EU sanctions on Russia until that country complies in full with its obligations under the Minsk agreements.
David Roy Lidington (Conservative, Centre-right): We have not been asked by the United States for such a location. If we received such a request, we would consider it on its merits in the way that successive British Governments always have done.
EU Sanctions (Russia) — House of Commons, 2015-06-09
Topic: International Affairs
Questions: What his policy is on continuation of EU sanctions on Russia until that country complies in full with its obligations under the Minsk agreements.; What his policy is on continuation of EU sanctions on Russia until that country complies in full with its obligations under the Minsk agreements.
John Charles Baron (Conservative, Centre-right): Given that evidence was submitted to the Foreign Affairs Committee that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office had no in-house Crimea experts at the time of the Russian annexation, does the Minister agree that greater investment is required in our analytical capabilities?
EU Sanctions (Russia) — House of Commons, 2015-06-09
Topic: International Affairs
Questions: What his policy is on continuation of EU sanctions on Russia until that country complies in full with its obligations under the Minsk agreements.; What his policy is on continuation of EU sanctions on Russia until that country complies in full with its obligations under the Minsk agreements.
David Roy Lidington (Conservative, Centre-right): We have an extremely talented team of analysts working in the eastern European and central Asian directorate within the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. In the light of events over the past 18 months, we have taken steps to strengthen the capacity of that side of the FCO. It is fair to say that most Governments throughout the world had hoped on the basis of the past 25 years’ experience that Russia was moving towards integration in a rules-based international order. It is clear from the actions that Russia has taken in the past year that that cannot be guaranteed and we need to respond accordingly.