argyrotsipi/train-dataset huggingface dataset:
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2020-10-12
Topic: Technology
Jonathan Edward Gullis (Conservative, Centre-right): By the end of this year, Stoke-on-Trent will have completed a 104-km city-wide full fibre network capable of gigabit speeds. We have the ambition to create a UK-leading digital academy in Stoke-on-Trent that offers something truly unique to young people, like the BRIT School in London does, and to have every school and college across Stoke-on-Trent connected to the full fibre network. Does my right hon. Friend share my excitement at this opportunity, and can he help us make it a reality?
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2020-10-12
Topic: Education
Gavin Alexander Williamson (Conservative, Centre-right): I do not just share my hon. Friend’s enthusiasm; I am right there with him, cheering it on and making sure that it happens. I pay tribute to him and other brilliant Conservative colleagues in Stoke-on-Trent, including of course the Conservative leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Councillor Abi Brown, who has been driving this forward so hard. We want to see all schools having that connectivity and the benefits that the internet can bring for every single child in our schools.
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2020-10-12
Topic: Education
Gavin Alexander Williamson (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Gentleman raises an important point. When we looked at the provision of support for children, especially the most disadvantaged, we were looking at the equipment not just in terms of laptops or tablets, but the routers that go with them. We have also been working, along with colleagues from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with major internet providers on how we ensure that that provision is available for all youngsters across the country.
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2020-10-12
Topic: Education
Stuart Paul Anderson (Conservative, Centre-right): Will the Secretary of State join me in thanking all the schools across Wolverhampton for the exceptional job that they have done in the hardest of conditions and, when time permits, will he join me in visiting King’s, Woodthorne or other great schools in Wolverhampton?
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2020-10-12
Topic: Education
Gavin Alexander Williamson (Conservative, Centre-right): It looks as if I will be spending the day with my hon. Friend as we tour Wolverhampton, which would be an absolute delight. I look forward to joining him in doing that. Let me take the opportunity to thank not just those teachers, support staff and parents but, most importantly, the children, who have ensured that the return of schools has been such a success, with so many children getting back to school and having the opportunity to learn. Despite the efforts of some, this has been a success, and children are the ones who are benefiting more than any others.
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2020-10-12
Topic: Education
Nicolas John Gibb (Conservative, Centre-right): We take this issue very seriously. We have already supplied 220,000 laptops and tablets to schools and local authorities up and down the country—one of the biggest procurements of computer devices in this country. We have plans in place for another 250,000 laptops, and £160 million has been spent ensuring that people have access to the internet should they need to self-isolate. However, at the moment, 99.8% of schools are open and 90% of pupils are in school learning with their teachers.
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2020-10-12
Topic: Education
Gavin Alexander Williamson (Conservative, Centre-right): I pay tribute to the hon. Gentleman’s predecessor, Chris White, who is involved in the Warwickshire College Group and has already made representations to me on this matter. We recognise that the college sector plays an important role. That is why we have been increasing the rate of support and funding. We will continue to work with the sector to ensure not just its future stability but its future success.
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2020-10-12
Topic: Education
Mark Simon Eastwood (Conservative, Centre-right): My right hon. Friend has done great work making thousands of laptops, tablets and 4G routers available to disadvantaged school pupils; however, colleges such as Kirklees College in Dewsbury do not qualify for the scheme and have to use their own funds to support their students. Does he recognise that these are tough times for colleges, and will he assure me that he will continue to look at ways to support them?
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2020-10-12
Topic: Education
Gavin Alexander Williamson (Conservative, Centre-right): That is why we have given extra flexibilities to colleges and made learner support funds available for devices and to cover connectivity costs, which is an issue that some students have faced. Further education must be at the heart of our recovery from this pandemic, as it is able to reach into many communities that, in the past, have been left behind. It will not only create life chances and opportunities for many young people, but will drive productivity across all parts of the United Kingdom. To ensure that we deliver on that, I look forward to working with my hon. Friend, who is a passionate advocate of further education colleges not just in his constituency but across the country.
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2020-10-12
Topic: Social Welfare
Gavin Alexander Williamson (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Lady speaks, rightly, with a passion and conviction on this issue that I share. We want to see this ended; we want to see this changed. It is not something that we can allow to continue. She will be aware of the Department’s consultation on the issue, and we look forward to publishing the results in the not-too-distant future. This is incredibly important, as these children are from some of the most vulnerable backgrounds in the country, and we have a duty as a state to do everything we can to protect them.
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2020-10-12
Topic: Education
Andrew Griffith (Conservative, Centre-right): The purpose of the Office for Students is that "every student has a fulfilling experience of higher education" In the light of the current difficulties faced by undergraduates, will the Secretary of State commit to a post-covid review of the OfS?
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2020-10-12
Topic: Education
Gavin Alexander Williamson (Conservative, Centre-right): I will work closely with the OfS to ensure that it is working with universities and that universities are delivering what students expect and require for their studies. We will always work closely with all government organisations to deliver the very best for students and ensure that universities deliver on students’ behalf.
Covid-19 Update — House of Commons, 2020-10-12
Topic: Government Operations
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): We are working hard with colleagues from all parties to get across our messages, and I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for the support that he has felt able to give for the measures we have outlined. I believe they can be very effective if they are delivered jointly with local authorities and local support. That is what we are working for, and I hope he will join us in that effort.
Covid-19 Update — House of Commons, 2020-10-12
Topic: Labor
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): I understand the point that my hon. Friend makes. The regular job support scheme will of course be available to businesses that are open but not able to trade in the way that they would want.
Covid-19 Update — House of Commons, 2020-10-12
Topic: Social Welfare
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): We will always do what we can to improve the welfare system for those who are not benefiting, but I remind the House that the self-employed —the group we all care about very much—have so far received £13.5 billion of support. We will continue to look after them as well.
Covid-19 Update — House of Commons, 2020-10-12
Topic: Labor
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): I am grateful to my hon. Friend, but actually, the job support scheme is precisely available to pubs, restaurants and businesses in her constituency that may be open but are not able to trade as they normally would.
Covid-19 Update — House of Commons, 2020-10-12
Topic: Social Welfare
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): As the hon. Gentleman knows, we have given substantial sums—£380 million already—to provide meals for kids in need of free school meals in these difficult times, and we will continue, through universal credit and other support, to help families across this country throughout this crisis.
Covid-19 Update — House of Commons, 2020-10-12
Topic: Social Welfare
Michael Jon Wood (Conservative, Centre-right): Families across the country, in whichever of the new tiers, rely on childcare, whether formal or informal. Without it, key workers and those in the wider economy would be unable to work and many children would be unable to get to and from school. Will my right hon. Friend make sure that access to childcare, whether it is professional childcare or relatives and neighbours, remains available throughout this pandemic?
Covid-19 Update — House of Commons, 2020-10-12
Topic: Social Welfare
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): Yes, of course. My hon. Friend is totally right about the importance of childcare. We remain committed to giving 30 hours of free childcare. The crucial thing about our measures is to keep the economy moving as much as possible.
Covid-19 Update — House of Commons, 2020-10-12
Topic: Social Welfare
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): I must repeat what I said earlier: by other global standards this Government have done a huge amount—£190 billion already—to support people, businesses, jobs, and livelihoods across the country. On the specific point about universal credit, we have increased its value by £1,000, and that will remain in place for the rest of this financial year.
Covid-19 Update — House of Commons, 2020-10-12
Topic: Social Welfare
Miriam Joy Cates (Conservative, Centre-right): Parents in my constituency rely on friends and family for informal childcare, and even under the new three-tier restrictions I believe that informal, pre-arranged childcare can continue. As a new parent himself, I am sure my right hon. Friend understands that sometimes circumstances dictate that parents need emergency childcare. That is happening more and more with childminders or nursery staff having to isolate. Will the Prime Minister confirm that emergency informal childcare can still be used to assist parents, even under the three-tier system?
Covid-19 Update — House of Commons, 2020-10-12
Topic: Social Welfare
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): Tell me about it, Mr Speaker! My hon. Friend makes an important point, and there are obviously provisions for 30 hours of free childcare. Her point about emergency childcare is well made. That is why we need to keep the economy moving in the way that we are.
Covid-19 Update — House of Commons, 2020-10-12
Topic: Government Operations
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): I note the ideological scorn of any private sector work, which I thought I had left the Labour party these days, but does not seem to have done. I share the hon. Gentleman’s veneration of local authorities, as a creature of local government myself, and that is why we have given an extra £3.7 billion to support local authorities in this crisis. As I told the House just now, there is a billion more to come.
Covid-19 Update — House of Commons, 2020-10-12
Topic: Macroeconomics
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): For the implications for his constituency, my hon. Friend should look at the gov.uk website. He should be in no doubt that the Government are committed to supporting businesses, jobs and livelihoods across the country. That is why my right hon Friend the Chancellor unveiled the job support scheme, and it is why we have uprated universal credit and put in many other measures, including cuts in VAT and business rates, that will continue for a long time to come.
Covid-19 Update — House of Commons, 2020-10-12
Topic: Macroeconomics
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): With respect to the right hon. Gentleman, we are not back to where we were in March, because the R is not at those levels and we are not going back to a national lockdown of the kind we saw in March. What we are doing is taking a series of carefully modulated local and national measures designed together to get the R down, keep education going and keep the economy moving.
Covid-19 Update — House of Commons, 2020-10-12
Topic: Labor
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): I understand the point that the hon. Lady makes, but she will also understand that the schemes that my right hon. Friend the Chancellor has announced go on until next spring. We should not forget that the original furlough scheme has yet to elapse.
Covid-19 Update — House of Commons, 2020-10-12
Topic: Labor
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): That is exactly why, on top of the low business rates, the VAT cuts and so on—and the grants that we have given—the job support scheme is directly designed to support those businesses that will remain open, like pubs, but which are not able to trade as they normally would under some of these restrictions. That is what it is there for.
Covid-19 Update — House of Commons, 2020-10-12
Topic: Macroeconomics
Felicity Christiana Buchan (Conservative, Centre-right): Businesses in my central London constituency are hurting because of the low footfall. While of course we need to take appropriate measures to control the virus, does my right hon. Friend agree with me that we need to balance the interests of the economy, because it is only with a functioning economy that we can pay for our excellent NHS?
Covid-19 Update — House of Commons, 2020-10-12
Topic: Macroeconomics
Robert Butler (Conservative, Centre-right): Many businesses in Aylesbury are affected by the 10 pm curfew, despite the low infection rates locally, so can my right hon. Friend confirm that there is and there always will be a scientific basis for restrictions on economic activity?
Covid-19 Update — House of Commons, 2020-10-12
Topic: Macroeconomics
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): I do not know whether £190 billion counts as a promissory note or empty rhetoric, but that is what the Chancellor has provided so far in support. I am grateful for what the hon. Gentleman says about local responses. That is entirely right, and we are certainly looking for locally led responses to help us to get the virus down.
Covid-19 Update — House of Commons, 2020-10-12
Topic: Labor
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): We have to have some sort of cut-off date in order to deal with the possibility of fraud. I am obviously very sympathetic to the hon. Gentleman’s constituent and I wish him all the best. In the meantime, there is the support available under universal credit, but the best thing for him and for the whole economy is to keep things moving and to hope that he gets the kind of job that he wants as fast as possible.
Covid-19 Update — House of Commons, 2020-10-12
Topic: Labor
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): I certainly echo what my hon. Friend says about the Government in Wales. Businesses of the kind that he refers to in his constituency obviously have access to the job support system when they are forced to trade in a way that is not normal for them.
Covid-19 Update — House of Commons, 2020-10-12
Topic: Labor
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): Yes, indeed. That is why my right hon. Friend the Chancellor announced grants of up to £3,000 and why we have the job support system, which is designed to help people in exactly the circumstances the hon. Lady describes.
Covid-19 Update — House of Commons, 2020-10-12
Topic: Law and Crime
Mark Julian Francis Pawsey (Conservative, Centre-right): I welcome the introduction of three tiers, which will give more certainty to everyone, but while hospitality outlets in Rugby have worked hard to make their premises safe and have been supported by police, community wardens, business improvement district rangers and street pastors, the 10 o’clock curfew has led to many leaving the pub to go to a shop to stock up with booze, often with their friends, to drink at home. If it is necessary to keep 10 o’clock closing, should off-licences be treated equally?
Covid-19 Update — House of Commons, 2020-10-12
Topic: Education
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): I believe the hon. Lady has mentioned the issue of Hull University’s testing facilities before—perhaps it was another hon. Member—but I will certainly find out what the obstacle is to Hull’s testing facilities. There is no reason in principle why that university should not be testing in the way that the other universities she mentioned are doing.
Covid-19 Update — House of Commons, 2020-10-12
Topic: Social Welfare
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): I am proud of this Government’s record in raising the living wage by record sums. The hon. Lady will have heard what I said earlier about continuing with our support for universal credit—continuing with the uplift in universal credit—for the whole of this financial year.
Covid-19 Update — House of Commons, 2020-10-12
Topic: Macroeconomics
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): I am grateful to Steve Rotheram and other leaders in that area for the support they are giving for the measures we are putting in place. I think that they understand the real dilemma that we face, which is that we must get the virus down but we must also keep the economy going and support jobs. That is what we are doing.
Covid-19 Update — House of Commons, 2020-10-12
Topic: Government Operations
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): Yes, indeed; that is why we have gone for the three-tier approach and anybody in any doubt whatever, whether or not in Carshalton—I thank my hon. Friend’s constituents for the effort that they have made—should get on to the gov.uk website and see what they need to do to comply.
Covid-19 Update — House of Commons, 2020-10-12
Topic: Macroeconomics
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): Yes, indeed. I thank the people of Bury and I am, of course, sorry for all the privations that are being endured, not just in Bury but across the country. The best way to get the businesses that my hon. Friend talks about back on their feet is for us all, as I say, to follow the guidance, get the R down and take the country forward.
Covid-19 Update — House of Commons, 2020-10-12
Topic: Government Operations
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): I can tell the hon. Gentleman that we are supporting local authorities such as Bradford not just with the £3.6 billion we have already given, but as I said earlier this afternoon with another £1 billion to come.
Covid-19 Update — House of Commons, 2020-10-12
Topic: Social Welfare
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): I just remind the hon. Lady that, in addition to the £500, there is also the support of universal credit. As to those who are thinking of not isolating still, alas I must tell the House that there is a fine of £10,000.
Covid-19 Update — House of Commons, 2020-10-12
Topic: Macroeconomics
Alun Hugh Cairns (Conservative, Centre-right): I recognise the Prime Minister’s focus in his statement on introducing a much more simplified restriction regime that offers greater clarity and strikes a balance between the risk of spreading the virus and economic activity. Can he tell us what discussions have taken place with the devolved Administrations on taking a uniform approach across the United Kingdom, and is he able to update us on whether the Leader of the Opposition has supported such activity in engaging with the Welsh Government to encourage them to follow suit, because this will have a major effect on Treasury support and the simplicity that businesses in my constituency can draw on?
Covid-19 Update — House of Commons, 2020-10-12
Topic: Government Operations
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): It is certainly the case that there is a wide measure of co-operation across all the devolved Administrations with the Government, and it is also the case that, to the best of my knowledge, the Leader of the Opposition has at least sometimes backed the restrictions. I hope very much that we will continue to work in that collaborative way.
Covid-19 Update — House of Commons, 2020-10-12
Topic: Education
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): Indeed, but as I said earlier, I am reluctant to make a hard-and-fast distinction between students and other members of the population. They are heir to the same afflictions as the rest of us. By and large, students are doing a great job in following the guidance, and we encourage all of them to do that.
Covid-19 Update — House of Commons, 2020-10-12
Topic: Education
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): The right hon. Gentleman raises an exceptionally important point. A great deal of work is being done on the right size of the bubble, as it were, and how many infections should be decisive in taking action in schools. I am very happy to say that—at the moment, at least—we have almost 90% of kids in school and 99.9% of schools open. That is a great achievement by teachers, parents and pupils alike.
Covid-19 Update — House of Commons, 2020-10-12
Topic: Labor
Theresa Anne Villiers (Conservative, Centre-right): The furlough and self-employment schemes have provided crucial help to many millions of people, but unfortunately, around 3 million fell outside the scope of those schemes. May I appeal for help for those groups, such as the newly employed, the newly self-employed, directors of limited companies and freelancers on short-term contracts? Some of them are suffering real hardship.
Covid-19 Update — House of Commons, 2020-10-12
Topic: Social Welfare
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): Indeed, and I have mentioned the £13.5 billion that we have already given to the self-employed. My right hon. Friend understands the difficulties of the cut-off date, which my right hon. Friend the Chancellor has illustrated. It is to help people across the country that we have increased universal credit, for instance, which will continue for this whole financial year.
Covid-19 Update — House of Commons, 2020-10-12
Topic: Social Welfare
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): On the guidance for tier 2 and tier 3 areas, the best thing residents of those areas can do is get on the website and check exactly what is needed. But the hon. Member makes a very important point about care homes. I think the whole House feels for those who are in care homes, perhaps nearing the end of their lives and worried that they may not see their loved ones. It is a truly terrible situation. No one would want to do that lightly. We try to make exceptions for very difficult circumstances, but we must reduce the incidence in care homes, or we must keep it as low as we have got it. We saw what happened earlier this year and we really do not want to see a repeat of that.