argyrotsipi/train-dataset huggingface dataset:
Prisons and Courts Bill — House of Commons, 2017-03-20
Topic: Law and Crime
Christopher Laurie Malthouse (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend is absolutely right. When I was at City Hall, we found that this disposal had taken off like wildfire in South Dakota—the judges loved it; it was enormously effective; recidivism rates were incredibly low; and the compliance percentage rates were up in the high 90s. This is all based on the notion that justice is swift and certain if an offender contravenes the rules of the scheme, and that offenders take responsibility for their own punishment and feel invested in it. Every time they reach for a drink, they have to decide whether they want to stay out of prison. As a result, the disposal has been enormously successful and is spreading across the entire United States. We have the power here; it just needs the small adjustment of allowing the police or courts to charge offenders a nominal amount for testing—money that they were spending on booze or drugs—which would allow them to invest in their own rehabilitation and therefore make some progress I welcome the Bill. It is a refreshing step in the right direction of breaking the dreadful merry-go-round with which I lived for far too long.
Prisons and Courts Bill — House of Commons, 2017-03-20
Topic: Law and Crime
Michael James Tomlinson-Mynors (Conservative, Centre-right): As the hon. Gentleman has heard from the former Justice Minister, my hon. Friend the Member for South West Bedfordshire (Andrew Selous), that it is indeed a private prison—the hon. Member for Bridgend (Mrs Moon) may well confirm it in her own words—will he reconsider his party’s position?
Prisons and Courts Bill — House of Commons, 2017-03-20
Topic: Law and Crime
Philip Andrew Davies (Conservative, Centre-right): I have visited lots of prisons, and the hon. Gentleman might be surprised to hear that one of my favourite visits was to Grendon prison in the Speaker’s constituency. It is a therapeutic prison, and I was most impressed on my visit there. One of the things I learned was that all the things about being in prison that we would find terrible, most prisoners find easy, and most things that we would find easy, most prisoners find difficult. That taught me—I hope others will take this on board—that we should look at prisons through the eyes of the prisoners, not from our particular perspectives on what might work and does not work in a prison.
Prisons and Courts Bill — House of Commons, 2017-03-20
Topic: Law and Crime
Philip Andrew Davies (Conservative, Centre-right): Can the Minister explain why, with all the assaults on prison officers at the moment, the average amount of extra time that prisoners spend in prison for assaulting a prison officer is 16 days, which is, quite frankly, pathetic and insulting?
Universal Credit: Highlands — House of Commons, 2017-03-20
Topic: Social Welfare
Damian Patrick George Hinds (Conservative, Centre-right): I congratulate the hon. Member for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey (Drew Hendry) on securing a debate on this important matter and bringing his feedback and critique to the Floor of the House today I recognise the concerns that have been raised, and I want to reassure the hon. Gentleman that work is already well under way to improve delivery. Today’s debate presents an opportunity to share some of the ways in which the Department has sought, and is seeking, to resolve obstacles to this ground-breaking project There are now 470,000 people on universal credit, 2,400 of whom are in the hon. Gentleman’s constituency. As we would expect of a full-scale reform programme of this magnitude, there have been challenges along the way, but I assure hon. Members that we are working quickly to deal with them to ensure that UC is delivered safely and securely. I recognise specifically that the hon. Gentleman has encountered a number of universal credit claimants who have had issues with the service, and I am aware that he has already been in discussion with the Department for Work and Pensions district manager for the north of Scotland, who has invited him into the local jobcentre to assist in mutual understanding of the issues. I also acknowledge what the hon. Gentleman says in outlining occasions where things have gone wrong—if something has been mislaid and so on—and, of course, for those occasions I am sorry I commend what the hon. Gentleman is doing both for and with local organisations and his constituents. Bringing together local stakeholders, trying to address the details, and helping people to solve problems is important to ensuring the safe delivery of this historic reform. The hon. Gentleman has spoken, too, of the diligence, commitment and work ethic of our key stakeholders, local partners and staff, and I echo that Looking ahead to other highland areas that are due to roll out the universal credit full service, our implementation strategy is under way and we will soon be having conversations at a more local level. The remaining jobcentre sites aligned to the Highland Council area will roll out in July 2017 and, as part of the implementation activities, we have an external plan to ensure that all involved have a proper overview of universal credit before it arrives at the jobcentres.
Universal Credit: Highlands — House of Commons, 2017-03-20
Topic: Labor
Damian Patrick George Hinds (Conservative, Centre-right): Let me thank the hon. Gentleman for that offer. I welcome the opportunity to speak to local organisations throughout the country. My most recent visit to a jobcentre was this morning, and I plan to make another on Thursday. There are several hundred jobcentres throughout the country, and my aim is to get representative feedback and critiques to help our understanding of these issues. I also welcome the communication that I have had from and with the hon. Gentleman in that regard.
Universal Credit: Highlands — House of Commons, 2017-03-20
Topic: Social Welfare
Damian Patrick George Hinds (Conservative, Centre-right): Of course I recognise what the hon. Gentleman says about the need to continue working on the housing issues that we have been discussing. That is a matter of ongoing work. The change on implicit and explicit consent is quite recent, but I will endeavour to ensure that it is clearly understood in the Inverness jobcentre The hon. Gentleman also referred to the freedoms afforded to the Scottish Government under our devolution arrangements. We continue to work closely together with Scottish Government colleagues to implement the Scottish flexibilities that have been agreed. We have listened to Scottish Government colleagues who said that they needed action earlier and, in response, we introduced the alternative payment arrangements easement in April 2016, which pushed back the APA claimant review date to 24 months. Discussions with the Scottish Government are progressing well, and DWP officials continue to work positively, openly, and collaboratively on the detail of the administrative flexibilities Let me be clear, though: under the universal credit Scottish flexibilities, the Scottish Government have the power to pay the UC award fortnightly instead of monthly, to implement alternative payment arrangements for 100% of cases, and to pay the housing element of universal credit direct to the landlord. Although we do not think that is the best approach, we fully accept their right to do so and look forward to them actioning these matters quickly. We further acknowledge that they have the powers to create new benefits, to top up existing benefits, and to provide discretionary payments in any area of welfare. Again, we look forward to them speedily delivering on and making full use of those powers I recognise that there are areas for improvement in the service, but with every release of new software and every new office that goes live with the full digital service, enhancements are made that improve the experience of using the service for staff, claimants, landlords and our delivery partners. The hon. Gentleman has seen for himself the drive, commitment and passion that so many of our staff, stakeholders and people across the programme have. They want to see this revolutionary welfare reform through, and I am certain that they will Question put and agreed to.
Commonwealth Countries — House of Commons, 2017-07-06
Topic: Foreign Trade
Questions: What recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in other Commonwealth countries on the future of trade and investment between the UK and those countries.; What recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in other Commonwealth countries on the future of trade and investment between the UK and those countries.
Liam Fox (Conservative, Centre-right): Ministerial colleagues and I regularly engage with business stakeholders and policy makers in Commonwealth partner countries. In March, my noble Friend Lord Price and I met over 20 visiting Trade Ministers at the inaugural Commonwealth Trade Ministers meeting in London, and we discussed strengthening collaboration and deepening intra-Commonwealth trade and investment. We are now preparing for the Commonwealth summit in 2018.
Commonwealth Countries — House of Commons, 2017-07-06
Topic: Foreign Trade
Questions: What recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in other Commonwealth countries on the future of trade and investment between the UK and those countries.; What recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in other Commonwealth countries on the future of trade and investment between the UK and those countries.
James Philip Duddridge (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank the Secretary of State for that answer. The Commonwealth is particularly up for doing trade with the UK, especially in Africa. The Secretary of State referred to intra-Africa trade. Can we be even bolder and encourage a continental—intra-Africa—free trade deal not only with our Commonwealth friends but going beyond our Commonwealth friends?
Commonwealth Countries — House of Commons, 2017-07-06
Topic: International Affairs
Questions: What recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in other Commonwealth countries on the future of trade and investment between the UK and those countries.; What recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in other Commonwealth countries on the future of trade and investment between the UK and those countries.
Christopher Paul Davies (Conservative, Centre-right): Britain and the Commonwealth nations share a great history, and over the years have formed many great links across academia, sport, culture and numerous other areas. What steps has my right hon. Friend taken to expand this co-operation with Commonwealth countries to include a free trade agreement, so that we can add business and commerce to the long list of Commonwealth co-operative endeavours?
Commonwealth Countries — House of Commons, 2017-07-06
Topic: Foreign Trade
Questions: What recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in other Commonwealth countries on the future of trade and investment between the UK and those countries.; What recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in other Commonwealth countries on the future of trade and investment between the UK and those countries.
Liam Fox (Conservative, Centre-right): As my hon. Friend knows, the Commonwealth is not a trading bloc, and it actually contains a number of very disparate economies. We are liaising with several Commonwealth partners about bilateral agreements in the future, and my Department is working with stakeholders to develop initiatives that will stimulate UK and intra-Commonwealth trade and investment in the lead up to and beyond that vital Commonwealth summit next year.
Commonwealth Countries — House of Commons, 2017-07-06
Topic: Foreign Trade
Questions: What recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in other Commonwealth countries on the future of trade and investment between the UK and those countries.; What recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in other Commonwealth countries on the future of trade and investment between the UK and those countries.
Liam Fox (Conservative, Centre-right): I am sorry to hear such a lack of understanding of how the modern economy works. Particularly for countries that have a large proportion of their trade in services, services trade does not depend on distance. In fact, what we need is increasingly close co-operation with countries that are similar to us in their economic status, not necessarily geographically proximate, although I entirely understand that for goods the geographical distance does have a greater bearing.
Commonwealth Countries — House of Commons, 2017-07-06
Topic: International Affairs
Questions: What recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in other Commonwealth countries on the future of trade and investment between the UK and those countries.; What recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in other Commonwealth countries on the future of trade and investment between the UK and those countries.
Liam Fox (Conservative, Centre-right): What we do not know at present is what the state of the EU-Canada agreement will be at the point at which we exit the European Union. It may well be that all countries have ratified it, but as the right hon. Gentleman is well aware, as a result of the Singapore judgment every single Parliament and some regional parliaments will have to ratify the deal. If the deal is not ratified at the point at which we leave the European Union and has only provisional application, it will have no basis in UK law, in which case we will have to have the fall-back position of using that as the basis for a future UK-Canada agreement.
Commonwealth Countries — House of Commons, 2017-07-06
Topic: Foreign Trade
Questions: What recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in other Commonwealth countries on the future of trade and investment between the UK and those countries.; What recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in other Commonwealth countries on the future of trade and investment between the UK and those countries.
Nigel Martin Evans (Conservative, Centre-right): I think that the potential for trade with Commonwealth countries is very exciting—they are growing and strong economies—but every time I open a newspaper or listen to the radio or TV, the story is presented very negatively, as though it will be almost impossible for us to do these trade deals. Does the Secretary of State feel that that is wrong, and that it undermines the work he is doing?
Commonwealth Countries — House of Commons, 2017-07-06
Topic: Macroeconomics
Questions: What recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in other Commonwealth countries on the future of trade and investment between the UK and those countries.; What recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in other Commonwealth countries on the future of trade and investment between the UK and those countries.
Liam Fox (Conservative, Centre-right): It does appear that some elements of our media would rather see Britain fail than see Brexit succeed. I cannot recall a single time recently when I have seen good economic news that the BBC has not described as being "despite Brexit".
Commonwealth Countries — House of Commons, 2017-07-06
Topic: Agriculture
Questions: What recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in other Commonwealth countries on the future of trade and investment between the UK and those countries.; What recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in other Commonwealth countries on the future of trade and investment between the UK and those countries.
Liam Fox (Conservative, Centre-right): I entirely agree. To underpin the confidence in the agricultural sector, it needs to know that there are increasing markets out there. One of the key roles of the Government is to help our agricultural sector to have the confidence that it requires for investment by showing that we can help it into markets. It is worth pointing out that according to the European Commission’s own website, 90% of global growth in the next 10 years will be outside the European Union. Those are the markets we have to help British business get into.
Businesses (Support) — House of Commons, 2017-07-06
Topic: Foreign Trade
Mark Robert Timothy Garnier (Conservative, Centre-right): The Department for International Trade provides market access, support and advice to UK business in the UK and in 109 markets overseas. Through the GREAT campaign, we build the global appetite for British goods and services, and give UK companies access to millions of pounds’ worth of potential business through the digital services offered on the GREAT.gov.uk digital platform.
Businesses (Support) — House of Commons, 2017-07-06
Topic: Foreign Trade
Geoffrey Robert Clifton-Brown (Conservative, Centre-right): It is a great tribute to my hon. Friend’s Department that in the first year of its operation, the Office for National Statistics reports that exports went up by a huge 7% to £548 billion. Does he agree that with the increase in demand for British exports, UK Export Finance, with its widened role, has an important part to play?
Businesses (Support) — House of Commons, 2017-07-06
Topic: Foreign Trade
Mark Robert Timothy Garnier (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend is absolutely right to raise that matter. I thank him for the work he does on the all-party parliamentary group for international trade and investment. He is absolutely right that the Department for International Trade needs to provide a suite of services, and that includes UK Export Finance. Some 7,000 businesses have been helped by UK Export Finance, the appetite for risk has been doubled and we have increased the number of currencies we can use from 10 to 40, from the Australian dollar to the Zambian kwacha. That is part of a very wide range of things and we have been successful so far.
Businesses (Support) — House of Commons, 2017-07-06
Topic: Foreign Trade
Mark Robert Timothy Garnier (Conservative, Centre-right): The Department for International Trade is embarking on a series of talks with the World Trade Organisation and individual countries to, in the first instance, secure continuity of business with those countries with which we already have agreements. I speak as a remainer from the campaign, but this is a fantastic opportunity to forge new trade deals and take advantage of the opportunities that Brexit presents.
Brazil — House of Commons, 2017-07-06
Topic: Foreign Trade
Questions: What recent discussions he has had with the Government of Brazil on a trade agreement with that country after the UK leaves the EU.
Gregory William Hands (Conservative, Centre-right): Brazil is the UK’s largest export market in Latin America and represents significant opportunities for the UK. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State attended the UK-Brazil joint economic and trade committee last December. As I saw for myself in March in Rio, São Paulo and Belo Horizonte, both Governments are committed to deepening UK-Brazil trade and investment. UK and Brazilian officials continue to work together on proposals for reducing trade barriers, for discussion at the next joint committee.
Brazil — House of Commons, 2017-07-06
Topic: Foreign Trade
Questions: What recent discussions he has had with the Government of Brazil on a trade agreement with that country after the UK leaves the EU.
Laurence Anthony Robertson (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank the Minister for his response and congratulate him on that work. I was in Brazil last November and have had many meetings with His Excellency the Brazilian ambassador to London, and while Brazil has not been able to achieve a trade deal with the European Union, it very much looks forward to one with the UK. So can the Minister expedite such arrangements as quickly as possible?
Brazil — House of Commons, 2017-07-06
Topic: Foreign Trade
Questions: What recent discussions he has had with the Government of Brazil on a trade agreement with that country after the UK leaves the EU.
Gregory William Hands (Conservative, Centre-right): I congratulate my hon. Friend on his work with the all-party group on Brazil in the last Parliament, and he makes the good point that we do not need to have a free trade agreement to have free trade. Indeed, as I am sure he knows, the EU has no free trade agreement with the world’s largest markets such as the US, China, India and, indeed, Brazil. So there are many trade barriers that we can address without having a formal free trade agreement. This is very much our approach in Brazil, as seen by our joint committee talks and my own visit in March.
Brazil — House of Commons, 2017-07-06
Topic: Foreign Trade
Questions: What recent discussions he has had with the Government of Brazil on a trade agreement with that country after the UK leaves the EU.
Gregory William Hands (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question and welcome him back to his place; I have fond memories of working closely with him in previous Departments on trade and other issues There are two things to say in response to the hon. Gentleman’s question. He is right that the removal of non-tariff barriers—the grit in the system—is a key aspect of our Department’s work, and he is right to emphasise that this is about not just free trade agreements in the future, but also removing those practical barriers, which is why my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State had those talks back in December. In terms of supporting SMEs, the GREAT.gov.uk portal is very good; there is good access to Brazilian deals that are coming up, and I urge all SMEs to go to that portal, in order to access that.
Brazil — House of Commons, 2017-07-06
Topic: Foreign Trade
Questions: What recent discussions he has had with the Government of Brazil on a trade agreement with that country after the UK leaves the EU.
Gregory William Hands (Conservative, Centre-right): A lot of these matters will form part of the trade Bill which will be introduced in this Session. What is most important is that, as we seek a smooth and orderly exit from the European Union, we seek to replicate all of those existing EU free trade agreements, to provide certainty and stability for our businesses as we go forward to enable them to access both existing and future markets.
Food and Drink Sector — House of Commons, 2017-07-06
Topic: Foreign Trade
Mark Robert Timothy Garnier (Conservative, Centre-right): With your permission, Mr Speaker, I will answer questions 4, 9 and 10 together. The food and drink sector makes an important contribution to exports. In 2016, UK food and drink exports reached £20.1 billion, an increase of 9% from the previous year. This represented 6.6% of our total goods exports. For the first quarter of this year, food and drink exports reached £4.9 billion, up 8.3% on 2016, representing the highest first quarter exports value on record.
Food and Drink Sector — House of Commons, 2017-07-06
Topic: Foreign Trade
Mark Robert Timothy Garnier (Conservative, Centre-right): The answer to my hon. Friend’s question exemplifies the type of tailored help the Department for International Trade can give. Working with our officials in the south-west and local producers and businesses, we have created the Great British Food programme, which is designed specifically to allow south-west food and drink businesses to interact directly with overseas buyers. We have already seen them working with the EU, Turkey and China, and since April 2016 we have won over £19 million-worth of business across more than 30 export markets.
Food and Drink Sector — House of Commons, 2017-07-06
Topic: Agriculture
Johanna Peta Churchill (Conservative, Centre-right): As the Minister knows, food and drink manufacturing is an enormous market, particularly in my constituency. Issues over regulations, sampling and tariffs are among the concerns of global leaders such as Muntons, as well as some of my smaller exporters. Will he agree to meet me and them to discuss these issues further?