argyrotsipi/train-dataset huggingface dataset:
Census — House of Commons, 2020-05-06
Topic: Civil Rights
Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): First, I want to congratulate those in Wales, including my Plaid Cymru colleagues, who have campaigned hard for the right of Welsh people to identify as Asian Welsh or black Welsh in the ethic question if they so desire. That reflects the reality in Wales today, and I am glad that the Welsh Government and the ONS have responded. I am, however, concerned that the census order does not reflect that change in the tick box options. Will the Minister therefore assure us that the census regulations, when they are laid before Parliament and in the Senedd, will reflect that change This will be the first predominantly digital census, which I welcome. However, I am concerned about the robustness of the process where there is poor internet or no internet at all, as is the case in much of rural Wales. Will the Minister therefore update us on the arrangements with community organisations to support people to access the census, and give us the number of those who will need digital support or may want a paper copy instead There are good census datasets, from the 19th century onwards, on the number, percentage, location and so on of Welsh speakers, but we have no information about Welsh speakers in other parts of the UK. In the 2001 census, some respondents in England were intrigued by question 17, which was marked "intentionally left blank". That was because question 17 in Wales asked about the Welsh language ability of respondents—something that was not deemed to be required in England. However, the 2011 census showed that 507,000 people in England were Welsh-born. If 20% of those people speak Welsh, that is another 100,000 Welsh speakers on top of the 600,000 in Wales. That was a missed opportunity, because we have a target in Wales of increasing the number of Welsh speakers to 1 million. Will the Minister, even at this late stage, consider including a question on the Welsh language in the census in England Finally, I would like to add my voice and those of my Plaid Cymru colleagues to the call for a Cornish identity tick box, for which Cornish Members rightly make a strong case, as we have just heard. In 2001, as we heard, there was no option for a Welsh tick box, so handy little stickers the size of the tick box were produced by a person or persons unknown, allowing people to tick that box, even though it was not part of the official form. There was also a write-in option, and 14% of Welsh people wrote "Welsh" in the "Other" box. Does that mean that only 14% of people at the time in Wales identified themselves as Welsh? No, it was a fault with the question. In the following census, there was a tick box, and the percentage of self-identifying Welsh people shot up to 67% Enabling Cornish people to assert their national identity will not only allow them to feel represented, but give us a correct result as to the Cornish identity in 2021. Let me therefore conclude by saying meur ras, or diolch yn fawr in Welsh.
Social Distancing: 2 Metre Rule — House of Commons, 2020-06-15
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Ben Morgan Lake (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): Whether the 2 metre rule is maintained or shortened, as the hon. Member for Cardiff West (Kevin Brennan) mentioned, many businesses will find it will still not be viable to reopen. Given that, will the Government consider extending financial support to businesses that have to remain closed because social distancing measures would make reopening not financially viable?
Parliamentary Constituencies Bill — House of Commons, 2020-07-14
Topic: Civil Rights
Ben Morgan Lake (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): It is a pleasure to participate in this debate, and a particular pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Truro and Falmouth (Cherilyn Mackrory), with whom I agree quite strongly that Cornwall is its own nation and should be respected. Indeed, in Committee, we received quite a bit of evidence to that effect from Cornwall Council and Councillor Dick Cole, who drew our attention to the fact that the UK Government recognised Cornwall as a minority nation back in 2014, and that its territorial integrity in terms of representation in this place must be respected I wholeheartedly agree with the hon. Member that that should be addressed. Where we might disagree somewhat is that I believe we perhaps need to go further —this is something that could be looked at again under this Bill, perhaps in the other place—to see how we can ensure that those safeguards for the people and the nation of Cornwall are adequately protected.
Parliamentary Constituencies Bill — House of Commons, 2020-07-14
Topic: Mixed Topics
Ben Morgan Lake (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): The hon. Member makes a good point in terms of the fact that the protections are temporary, in so far as the mathematics, or the population, this time around is protected and works for Cornwall, but in the future there need to be other safeguards.
Covid-19: Tourism Industry — House of Commons, 2020-07-08
Topic: Mixed Topics
Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): There is mini-Budget talk of a VAT cut for hospitality, and it is fantastic if this is true, because Plaid Cymru has been pushing for it since 2008. Would the Secretary of State support a clear plan for targeted Wales-specific VAT cuts for specific sectors, such as tourism and home improvements, so that our small-employer economy can recover as quickly as possible?
Covid-19: Tourism Industry — House of Commons, 2020-07-08
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): The Secretary of State has very kindly answered my question with a question. I will take it, because he has not said no, that he is interested in Wales-specific VAT reductions, and I look forward to talking to him more about that Another initiative we could introduce in Wales is one introduced in countries such as Malta and Poland—voucher schemes to encourage domestic tourism to help the recovery. Ahead of the Chancellor’s statement, would the Secretary of State support the introduction of a Welsh tourism voucher scheme to be spent on outdoor attractions, accommodation and transport—trains and buses—which would be a much-needed boost to make the tourism industry work for the people of Wales?
Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (Accession) — House of Commons, 2020-06-17
Topic: Mixed Topics
Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): Nearly half of the UK’s carbon footprint probably comes from our trade overseas to satisfy UK demand. What impact assessment has the Secretary of State made of the environmental costs of expanding UK trade into the Pacific region?
Coronavirus — House of Commons, 2020-03-09
Topic: Mixed Topics
Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): The Government have outlined emergency legislation that will extend new powers to the Welsh Government. Council representatives I have spoken with are concerned that there are currently legal obstacles hindering the swift deployment of emergency staff, for example in relation to vehicle insurance and limits on working hours. That applies particularly to social care staff, of whom there is a shortage in Wales and, I believe, across the UK. What discussions has the Secretary of State had with the Welsh Government to ensure that there are clear guidelines for emergency implementation in the care sector?
Budget Resolutions — House of Commons, 2020-03-11
Topic: Domestic Commerce
David Jonathan Edwards (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): I echo the hon. Lady’s comments. The announcements on support for small businesses are welcome, but I have been contacted by many small businesses in my constituency that are worried about extra charges due to the new Financial Conduct Authority regime for overdrafts. The Treasury needs to look at this before the regime comes into force in May.
Public Health England Review: Covid-19 Disparities — House of Commons, 2020-06-04
Topic: Civil Rights
Ben Morgan Lake (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): Twenty per cent. of all reported cases of covid-19 in prisons across England and Wales have been recorded in Welsh prisons, despite the fact that Welsh prisons hold just 6% of the total prison population. We know that a disproportionate number of those in the Welsh prison system are from black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. What plans do the Government have to work with the Welsh Government to address that racial disparity and the health implications arising from it for BME communities?
Public Order — House of Commons, 2020-06-08
Topic: Civil Rights
Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): Black Lives Matter protests have been held throughout Wales and I, too, stand against the injustice and violence faced by black people here and elsewhere. The vast majority of protesters respected social distancing or made innovative use of communications technology. Will the Home Secretary give due credit to the peaceful majority? For example, school student—
House Business during the Pandemic — House of Commons, 2020-06-08
Topic: Other
Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): I am sure that most of us appreciate that we are not here to talk about Parliament. We are here to talk about the fact that representatives who are unable to be here are representing constituents who are not represented by this Parliament, and that is wrong.
United Kingdom Internal Market Bill — House of Commons, 2020-09-14
Topic: Civil Rights
Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): I am sure that the right hon. Gentleman shares my dismay that the non-discrimination clause would mean that popular policies already made by the Welsh Government and our Senedd to do with the smoking ban, the ban on plastic bags, and organ donation could have been called in and not been valid under this legislation.
United Kingdom Internal Market Bill — House of Commons, 2020-09-15
Topic: Mixed Topics
David Jonathan Edwards (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): The hon. Gentleman is highlighting the fundamental weakness of the Bill from our perspective. The internal market is a shared asset between the four countries of the UK, but what is missing from the Bill is clear intergovernmental structures to govern it.
United Kingdom Internal Market Bill — House of Commons, 2020-09-15
Topic: Domestic Commerce
David Jonathan Edwards (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): If the office for the internal market writes a report that says, for instance, that a regulation passed by the Northern Irish Assembly—if it was functioning—was contrary to the principles of the Bill, would there be legal recourse if a company was affected by that policy?
Financial Services Bill — House of Commons, 2020-11-09
Topic: Domestic Commerce
David Jonathan Edwards (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): Considering the amount of work that needs to be done on this issue before the end of the transition period, is not the reality that the best we can hope for for the financial sector is some sort of base deal? The negotiations on what the situation may be down the line will then take many, many months, if not years.
Small Breweries Relief — House of Commons, 2020-11-09
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): Diolch yn fawr iawn, Ddirprwy Lefarydd I, like the vast majority of Members of this House, am proud to speak up for the excellent independent breweries of my constituency. These include inspiring beers from Cwrw Llŷn of Nefyn, Cader Ales in Dolgellau, and Porthmadog’s Mŵs Piws—which I imagine does not need translating as Purple Moose—as well as Myrddins Brewery and Distillery of Barmouth. Other bragdai bach of the county of Gwynedd include Bragdy Lleu in Penygroes, Snowdonia Brewery of Waunfawr, and Cwrw Ogwen in Bethesda This debate is not intended to be a language lesson, but I think Members will know the meaning of the words "cwrw" and "bragdy" when we have finished. The word "bragdy" is very similar to "brewery" because it is the same thing. "Cwrw" is an old Celtic word—Welsh word—meaning beer, but Members may recognise it from other places with words such as "cerveza". There is a real pedigree to these words. I will not indulge myself any further, because given half a chance I will All in all, Wales is home to about 90 independent breweries. However, these small breweries have to hold their own against the global beer companies that dominate the pub handpulls, the bar taps and the supermarket shelves. The small breweries relief scheme was launched in 2002 to allow them to compete and to compensate for lack of market access. It gave independent breweries a fighting chance to get their beers out to a public thirsty to taste something new and different.
Small Breweries Relief — House of Commons, 2020-11-09
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): It is of course an honour to be intervened upon by the hon. Gentleman. I really appreciate his intervention, and I will touch on that matter further. In the time in which we find ourselves, our breweries have been affected as much as the pubs that have been closed, and the pubs have received considerably more support than the breweries in the difficult recent months.
Small Breweries Relief — House of Commons, 2020-11-09
Topic: Mixed Topics
Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): I entirely agree with the right hon. Member. At this time now, even if the changes were to be introduced in January 2022, we are, none the less, presenting the breweries with uncertainty that they desperately do not need. The timing of this is really significant and now is not the time to be mentioning these changes, let alone to be moving ahead with them I wish to move ahead, although I truly welcome all the contributions from the many Members here, because I am sure that we are all doing the best for the brewers in our constituencies.
Small Breweries Relief — House of Commons, 2020-11-09
Topic: Mixed Topics
Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): The fortune of these shops—I have a similar one, Stori, in Bala in my constituency—is dependent on the success and the flourishing of the small breweries I will, if I am allowed, go back in time to 2002. My understanding is that the Government of the time decided to introduce reduced rates of duty for three reasons, and I think we should pay attention to these. The first was the poor profitability of small breweries relative to that of larger breweries, which enjoyed better economies of scale of production.
Small Breweries Relief — House of Commons, 2020-11-09
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): It does indeed. One thing that characterises our small independent brewers is their stake in their local community and that is something that is precious to all of us Let me move ahead. The second of the three points from 2002 that the small breweries relief was to address was the difficulties faced by small breweries in bringing their goods to market and in competing with larger breweries, which would offer bigger discounts to wholesalers, and I believe that that very much still holds true. The third point is the importance of maintaining diversity within the beer industry and preserving choice for the consumer. We should respect these underpinning principles today as well. Despite the boom in craft brewing over the past decade—
Small Breweries Relief — House of Commons, 2020-11-09
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): I entirely agree with the hon. Gentleman. Of course we can all agree that there is support for the hospitality industry, but the small breweries industry is an integral part of that. If we see that collapsing, it somehow begs the question that there is a discrepancy there Let me move ahead now. Despite the boom in craft brewing over the past decade, it remains the fact that nearly 90% of beer consumed in this country is still produced by a handful of global companies, and, despite their numbers, small breweries still only represent about 7% of all the beer sold in the United Kingdom The small breweries relief scheme allows independent brewers to pay a proportionate amount of duty to the Treasury, just like income tax. Its success is self-evident with at least one brewery in every constituency. The numbers who are here tonight pay credit to that.
Small Breweries Relief — House of Commons, 2020-11-09
Topic: Mixed Topics
Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): I agree with him entirely, and the hon. Gentleman is reading my mind, because that is exactly the subject I would like to move on to now. As I have said, many of us have at least one brewery—many of us, far more than that—in our constituency.
Small Breweries Relief — House of Commons, 2020-11-09
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): While we have a success story that we can all celebrate, we have to recognise how vulnerable it is at present. Again, in the interventions during this debate, we are hearing about the life’s work and the dream for many people in a constituency. They have this wonderful business, which is fully functional, and now it is faced with a threat. We will be hearing, I am sure, about the 150 small breweries that specifically fall into the remit of the change for the small breweries relief, but there is actually a wider concern about another aspect of the announcement that the Government made back in July, which I will touch on later, and that is the change from a percentage to a cash basis.
Small Breweries Relief — House of Commons, 2020-11-09
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): We now have a vast choice, with a fantastic variety of beer on offer. We have the greatest number of breweries in the United Kingdom since the 1930s, and I think that is something to celebrate. The SBR has broken the monopoly of production, if not yet that of consumption. It has unleashed a pioneering spirit of independent brewery enterprise, which is something to which we can all raise our glasses, even the Tory party.
Small Breweries Relief — House of Commons, 2020-11-09
Topic: Mixed Topics
Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): Whatever the incentive, it is evident since 2002 there has been an incentive to increase the number of breweries, and we need to be alert to what could be disincentives, and to uncertainty and how that can operate as a disincentive.
Small Breweries Relief — House of Commons, 2020-11-09
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Ben Morgan Lake (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): I appreciate the Minister’s point that there is never a good time to try to get consensus from the industry, but surely we can agree that the past nine months has seen quite exceptional circumstances that have had an impact on the entire industry, whether that is small breweries or the bigger ones, particularly given the uncertainty with the on-trade. Breweries such as Mantle Brewery and Penlon Brewery in my constituency of Ceredigion are also so dependent on tourism. Surely introducing these changes at a time of such uncertainty is unwise and should be reconsidered.
Small Breweries Relief — House of Commons, 2020-11-09
Topic: Other
Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): I think the Minister will agree that the feeling among Members of Parliament is very strong and is cross-party. We would all greatly appreciate the opportunity to discuss this matter in a different register to that which can be used in the Chamber. Will she consent to that?
Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme — House of Commons, 2020-11-05
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): I am wondering whether consideration might be given to certain sectors, because we know that, sector-specifically, there are areas such as tourism that have been able to make no money whatever over the summer. Could this be a medium by which that could be addressed?
EU Trade Negotiations — House of Commons, 2020-11-18
Topic: Mixed Topics
Ben Morgan Lake (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): I know that the Minister is a strong supporter of devolution and he will acknowledge that the UK Government’s conduct of reserved matters such as trade will have significant implications for devolved competences such as agriculture. With that in mind, what concrete steps are the Government taking to develop the capacity of the Joint Ministerial Committee so that it fosters greater trust and transparency among the four nations?
Coach and Bus Sector: Covid-19 — House of Commons, 2020-09-17
Topic: Domestic Commerce
David Jonathan Edwards (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): Many of the coach companies based in my constituency are family-run businesses, and they inform me that they are facing a year-and-a-half-long winter in economic terms as a result of the covid pandemic. They are, of course, vital cogs in the tourism sector, yet they cannot access covid-related hospitality, leisure and tourism funding. What discussions is the Minister having with colleagues in the Treasury and the devolved Governments to address this anomaly?
Engagements — House of Commons, 2020-11-11
Topic: Mixed Topics
David Jonathan Edwards (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): West Wales and the valleys received over €2 billion in direct EU economic investment during the 2014 to 2020 multiannual financial framework. That support will come to an end in a matter of weeks, yet the British Government have yet to publish their alternative proposals despite all the promises of "not a penny less". When will the Prime Minister level with the people of Carmarthenshire and the rest of Wales about the British Government being about to pick our pockets?
UK Internal Market — House of Commons, 2020-09-16
Topic: Mixed Topics
Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): Well, he said it, and it was in the White Paper; procurement was mentioned there. Given that that is one of the weapons in the armoury of the Welsh Government with which to support businesses, it would be fair to expect something on that in the Bill—but I will move on Today marks, of course, the anniversary of the proclamation of Owain Glyndŵr as Prince of Wales at the first Senedd or Parliament in Machynlleth.
UK Internal Market — House of Commons, 2020-09-16
Topic: Other
Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): There was a Senedd in Machynlleth. The year 2020 saw the renaming of the Assembly as Senedd or Welsh Parliament. [Interruption.] Maybe the significance is lost on a certain Welsh MP; maybe the significance is lost in translation. [Interruption.]
Fire Safety Bill — House of Commons, 2020-09-07
Topic: Other
David Jonathan Edwards (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): I am extremely grateful to the hon. Lady for giving way at this point. She is making a very powerful case. I will be supporting new clause 1, as it is worthy of support. Will she put some pressure on her Labour colleagues in the Welsh Government in Cardiff to bring forward similar proposals for consideration by the Senedd in Cardiff before the elections in May?