argyrotsipi/train-dataset huggingface dataset:
Energy Price Increase in April 2022 — House of Commons, 2022-03-29
Topic: Energy
Kwasi Alfred Addo Kwarteng (Conservative, Centre-right): As I have said, we have a £9.1 billion support package, which was announced only four weeks ago. On top of that, we allocated £500 million of additional relief only last week to help people through this difficult time. One way in which I am afraid bills would go up is if we adopted the insane SNP policy of essentially shutting down North sea oil and having no intention at all to develop nuclear. That would be an utterly irresponsible and highly expensive way of dealing with the current problem.
Energy Price Increase in April 2022 — House of Commons, 2022-03-29
Topic: Energy
Kwasi Alfred Addo Kwarteng (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Gentleman is indeed correct: Scotland is extremely wealthy in its range of energy sources. That is why we have sought to encourage it through things like the £27 million Aberdeen energy transition zone and the North sea transition deal. We have constantly supported the Scottish energy industry. The hon. Gentleman refers to a report by Ofgem. I speak to it regularly, and we always try to see what we can do to justify and to equalise bills across the UK.
Energy Price Increase in April 2022 — House of Commons, 2022-03-29
Topic: Energy
Andrew James Bridgen (Conservative, Centre-right): I welcome the fact that the Prime Minister has announced that he will publish an energy supply strategy to deal with the UK’s energy requirements for the short, medium and long term. Can the Secretary of the State update the House on when we can expect the strategy to be published?
Renewable Energy Sector — House of Commons, 2022-03-29
Topic: Energy
Kwasi Alfred Addo Kwarteng (Conservative, Centre-right): As the hon. Lady will know, few countries have done as well as we have in respect of offshore wind. We are backing a range of other technologies through our strategy, and also through the 10-point plan.
Renewable Energy Sector — House of Commons, 2022-03-29
Topic: Energy
Kwasi Alfred Addo Kwarteng (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Lady will understand that, when such publications are issued, a range of cross-Government "write-rounds" is required. We are constantly talking to colleagues across Government, not just in the Treasury, so that we can land the energy strategy as quickly as possible.
Renewable Energy Sector — House of Commons, 2022-03-29
Topic: Energy
Derek Gordon Thomas (Conservative, Centre-right): Getting on top of energy issues, particularly those relating to renewable energy, is the most difficult challenge in rural areas such as mine. How will the Secretary of State’s strategy—to be launched soon—enable the renewable energy sector to grow from the grassroots up, so that people in fuel-poor homes, who may not have the money to buy the necessary equipment at the outset, have an opportunity to install solar panels and battery storage which will help them to deal with the rising cost of energy?
Renewable Energy Sector — House of Commons, 2022-03-29
Topic: Macroeconomics
Kwasi Alfred Addo Kwarteng (Conservative, Centre-right): We have just cut VAT on many of those products. I have already visited my hon. Friend in his constituency, and I am happy to have further discussions about what more we can do to drive the take-up of these important technologies.
Forced Labour of Uyghurs: UK Supply Chains — House of Commons, 2022-03-29
Topic: International Affairs
Questions: What steps his Department is taking to help ensure that the supply chains of businesses in the UK do not use forced labour of Uyghurs in Xinjiang, China.
Paul Stuart Scully (Conservative, Centre-right): In January 2021, we announced a robust package of measures to help to ensure that no UK organisations are complicit in the human rights violations being perpetrated in Xinjiang. We have also supplied detailed guidance to UK businesses, and will continue to engage with them.
Forced Labour of Uyghurs: UK Supply Chains — House of Commons, 2022-03-29
Topic: International Affairs
Questions: What steps his Department is taking to help ensure that the supply chains of businesses in the UK do not use forced labour of Uyghurs in Xinjiang, China.
Alicia Alexandra Martha Kearns (Conservative, Centre-right): Canadian Solar wants to build a solar plant in my constituency the size of 1,400 football pitches. In 2021, four of its shipments were seized owing to its links with Uyghur blood labour, and its subsidiary GCL-Poly has been sanctioned by the United States Government because of its complicity in genocide. Will my hon. Friend assure me that we will blacklist from nationally significant infrastructure projects all those companies that are complicit in genocide, and confirm that we will not allow blood labour to stain our green and pleasant lands?
Forced Labour of Uyghurs: UK Supply Chains — House of Commons, 2022-03-29
Topic: Labor
Questions: What steps his Department is taking to help ensure that the supply chains of businesses in the UK do not use forced labour of Uyghurs in Xinjiang, China.
Paul Stuart Scully (Conservative, Centre-right): As I have said, we have strong procedures to vet suppliers, and we have been given repeated written assurances from people who supply that they proactively monitor supply chains to ensure that forced labour is not used. We will of course ensure that the company to which my hon. Friend has referred comes within that robust supervision.
Standing Charges on Energy Bills — House of Commons, 2022-03-29
Topic: Energy
George William Freeman (Conservative, Centre-right): As the hon. Lady knows, the standing charge is designed to reflect the costs of connectivity and usually covers the fixed costs that the suppliers incur. If it was removed, that cost would simply be passed on to consumers. Standing charges are a matter for Ofgem, which has launched a call for evidence. The Government are focused on helping consumers through the £9 billion package of relief announced by the Chancellor a few weeks ago and the £5 billion announced last week to help families and households with the cost of fuel.
Standing Charges on Energy Bills — House of Commons, 2022-03-29
Topic: Energy
George William Freeman (Conservative, Centre-right): If it was as straightforward as that, the answer might be simple, but it is not—[Hon. Members: "Yes it is!"] No, it is not. The energy market is extremely complex, and there is a whole raft of charges. It is not true to say that Scottish consumers are hit particularly hard, as Scotland is also a net exporter and English and Welsh consumers are paying for it. The Government are absolutely focused on helping consumers with the cost of energy through the £9 billion relief announced in February, the £5 billion announced last week, the extra money for the warm home bonus and all the support mechanisms for the vulnerable. It is not simply a case of constantly tinkering with market price.
Energy Security: Nuclear Power — House of Commons, 2022-03-29
Topic: Energy
Lee Benjamin Rowley (Conservative, Centre-right): Nuclear energy is crucial in providing low-carbon baseload power, which, over the long term, assists in reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and our exposure to volatile global prices. We will continue to emphasise the vital role of the nuclear sector, including in the forthcoming energy supply strategy.
Energy Security: Nuclear Power — House of Commons, 2022-03-29
Topic: Energy
Suzanne Webb (Conservative, Centre-right): Our very own atomic kitten, my hon. Friend the Member for Ynys Môn (Virginia Crosbie), and I are going on a road trip to Hinkley Point C. When I did my research for the visit, I noticed that £5 million-worth of business opportunities had been realised by 36 companies in the west midlands, including three in my constituency, on the back of Hinkley Point C. Does the Minister agree that our investment in nuclear energy is not just about clean energy but about the supply chain opportunities that it will bring to small and medium-sized enterprises and manufacturing in my constituency?
Energy Security: Nuclear Power — House of Commons, 2022-03-29
Topic: Energy
Lee Benjamin Rowley (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend is right to emphasise not only the importance of nuclear in concept but the huge significance of the supply chain, which is estimated to support more than 60,000 jobs across the whole of the United Kingdom, including in SMEs in Stourbridge and Ynys Môn. And if I may shove in my knowledge of early 2000s pop music, we are working hard to make the nuclear industry whole again. [Laughter.]
Energy Security: Nuclear Power — House of Commons, 2022-03-29
Topic: Energy
Lee Benjamin Rowley (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Gentleman raises an important point about the importance of a diversified and secure energy supply. This is one of the reasons that the Government are looking at all forms, including tidal, and it is why we would encourage people from across the House to agree not just with tidal but with nuclear as well.
Energy Security: Nuclear Power — House of Commons, 2022-03-29
Topic: Energy
Virginia Ann Crosbie (Conservative, Centre-right): In the 2018 nuclear sector deal, £20 million was pledged towards Britain’s first thermal hydraulic testing facility, in north Wales. Does my hon. Friend agree that it is vital that the UK establish world-leading capabilities in thermal hydraulics, and can he provide an update on the next steps for this vital investment?
Energy Security: Nuclear Power — House of Commons, 2022-03-29
Topic: Energy
Lee Benjamin Rowley (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend is an absolute champion of the nuclear industry. I believe that this proposal would make the UK third in the world. We are working hard to see what can be done and I will certainly pass on her keenness for progress to be made.
Contracts for Difference: Environmental Performance of Holders — House of Commons, 2022-03-29
Topic: Environment
Questions: What steps he is taking to monitor the environmental performance of holders of existing Contracts for Difference in the context of new standards agreed at COP 26.
Paul Stuart Scully (Conservative, Centre-right): The contracts for difference scheme is a flagship scheme that has contributed to our fivefold increase in renewables since 2010. High environmental performance is a prerequisite for contracts for difference applications, and the next CFD round will require even more ambition from applicants.
Contracts for Difference: Environmental Performance of Holders — House of Commons, 2022-03-29
Topic: Energy
Questions: What steps he is taking to monitor the environmental performance of holders of existing Contracts for Difference in the context of new standards agreed at COP 26.
Paul Stuart Scully (Conservative, Centre-right): As a condition of receiving payment under the contracts for difference scheme, generators must demonstrate that they meet our biomass sustainability criteria, irrespective of where that biomass is sourced. There is no evidence that deforestation has occurred in the areas from where UK electricity generators source their biomass, but we must make sure biomass is sourced from areas that are managed consistently with sustainable forest management practices.
Investment in UK Manufacturing — House of Commons, 2022-03-29
Topic: Macroeconomics
Lee Benjamin Rowley (Conservative, Centre-right): The UK remains one of the world’s largest manufacturing nations, and the Government agree that manufacturing plays a vital role in the health of the UK economy. It is ultimately for British manufacturers to make decisions on their own strategies, but the Government continue to support them through a range of initiatives on productivity, costs, innovation and investment, ranging from Made Smarter to the catapults and the global Britain investment fund.
Investment in UK Manufacturing — House of Commons, 2022-03-29
Topic: Energy
Jack Edgar Brereton (Conservative, Centre-right): I very much welcome the Prime Minister’s response last week to my hon. Friend the Member for Scunthorpe (Holly Mumby-Croft) that energy-intensive manufacturers such as ceramics will be covered by the upcoming British energy security strategy. These sectors are more important than ever, particularly for future technology, and they need support to address high energy costs now. Will my hon. Friend the Minister do more to support ceramic manufacturers to invest in new technologies and increased energy efficiency?
Investment in UK Manufacturing — House of Commons, 2022-03-29
Topic: Energy
Lee Benjamin Rowley (Conservative, Centre-right): There is no bigger champion of the ceramics industry than my hon. Friend and his colleagues from Stoke, who work as an excellent team in supporting the industry as a whole. The Government have worked with industry for many years to mitigate the costs of energy, including an aggregate of £2 billion-worth of subsidy since 2013. From our multitude of conversations on the ceramics industry with him and his colleagues, I know he will encourage manufacturers in his constituency to consider other opportunities such as the industrial energy transformation fund.
Investment in UK Manufacturing — House of Commons, 2022-03-29
Topic: Macroeconomics
Lee Benjamin Rowley (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Lady is right to highlight the importance of a strong manufacturing base, which is one reason why we have spent so much time supporting and having active discussions with manufacturing. The challenges around Liberty are well known, and I have also visited Liberty sites in recent weeks and months. I am happy to meet her to talk further.
Investment in UK Manufacturing — House of Commons, 2022-03-29
Topic: Macroeconomics
Lee Benjamin Rowley (Conservative, Centre-right): I could hardly say no. I look forward to doing that and visiting many great manufacturers across the country. We are highlighting the brilliant work of the sector, and we continue to champion it as a vital part of the UK economy.
Investment in UK Manufacturing — House of Commons, 2022-03-29
Topic: Energy
Lee Benjamin Rowley (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank the hon. Gentleman for his contribution. He will be aware of the substantial support we have given manufacturers over many years, including more than £2 billion to mitigate energy prices. I note that in Teesside there have been recent announcements that demonstrate the confidence people have within manufacturing as a whole.
Investment in UK Manufacturing — House of Commons, 2022-03-29
Topic: Macroeconomics
Lee Benjamin Rowley (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend is a great champion for his constituency. I have been to the west midlands regularly to talk about the importance of the manufacturing base, and I would be happy to meet him to talk about West Bromwich.
Investment in UK Manufacturing — House of Commons, 2022-03-29
Topic: Macroeconomics
Lee Benjamin Rowley (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend highlights an important point about getting the balance right between regulation, and ensuring that the output and productivity of these industries works. I would be happy to talk to him more if that is helpful.
Investment in UK Manufacturing — House of Commons, 2022-03-29
Topic: Macroeconomics
Lee Benjamin Rowley (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Gentleman highlights the importance of manufacturing, which we have already talked about in these questions. This Government are a champion of manufacturing—[Interruption.] I am so glad that all Opposition Members agree with me. If they really do, they would recognise that ensuring a strong manufacturing base is incredibly important. The Labour party can provide no lessons, on the basis that it decimated manufacturing before 2010.
Investment in UK Manufacturing — House of Commons, 2022-03-29
Topic: Macroeconomics
Jonathan Edward Gullis (Conservative, Centre-right): I am glad now to know who the Minister’s favourite in Stoke-on-Trent is. Steelite, based in Stoke-on-Trent North, Kidsgrove and Talke, received funding from the regional growth fund, but it is being asked to pay back £685,000 plus interest due to capital underspend. The reason for that is simple: a global pandemic came across in March 2020, so it was not viable for Steelite to invest in capital when it did not even know whether it was going to continue to exist or how long the pandemic was going to last. Will my hon. Friend meet me and representatives of Steelite to discuss how that funding can continue to stay, so that Steelite can add to its factory and therefore employ more people locally?
Small Businesses’ Rising Costs — House of Commons, 2022-03-29
Topic: Labor
Laura Rose Farris (Conservative, Centre-right): Supporting businesses to manage their costs must not come at the expense of employment rights. The P&O ferry scandal is not about fire and rehire, but it puts the issue back in the spotlight because it exposes how vulnerable workers can be when faced with an exploitative employer who is willing to trample over their statutory rights to slash wages. At the Dispatch Box last week, my hon. Friend the Minister intimated that the Government would make further announcements on the issue. May I press him to tell the House today whether the Government are prepared to act definitively on fire and rehire?
Small Businesses’ Rising Costs — House of Commons, 2022-03-29
Topic: Labor
Paul Stuart Scully (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank my hon. Friend, who has been a doughty champion on the issue. The Government have always been clear that it is completely unacceptable for any sized business to use threats of fire and rehire simply as a negotiation tactic. We have already taken action. In November last year, we commissioned ACAS, which published guidance. I promised to take further steps, as she rightly said, and I am pleased to announce that we will bring forward a statutory code later this year under section 203 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992. We will introduce that as soon as parliamentary time allows. The code will have legal teeth; it will be admissible in evidence before courts and employment tribunals in England, Scotland and Wales.
Small Businesses’ Rising Costs — House of Commons, 2022-03-29
Topic: Macroeconomics
Paul Stuart Scully (Conservative, Centre-right): Nobody—whether in a domestic or business setting—can afford Labour. We have put £408 billion of support into wrapping our arms around jobs, livelihoods and businesses. We have 408 billion reasons to get this next bit right. The Labour party can talk about scrapping business rates, but it has not made any suggestion of what to replace them with. Fine words, but we will act.
Investment in Renewables: Household Energy Bills — House of Commons, 2022-03-29
Topic: Energy
George William Freeman (Conservative, Centre-right): Achieving the UK’s ambitious net zero target to prevent global warming and climate emergency beyond 1.5° and protect consumers from global price volatility will require significant extra investment in renewable electricity generation. We have seen the cost of renewable technologies, most notably offshore wind, reduce fast and as more renewables are added to the system, household electricity bills will be less affected by fluctuations in volatile global gas prices.
Investment in Renewables: Household Energy Bills — House of Commons, 2022-03-29
Topic: Energy
Karl McCartney (Conservative, Centre-right): An effective way for household energy bills in Lincoln and across the UK to be cut by 25% right now is through the removal of the renewables surcharge on everyone’s bills, even temporarily. Have the Minister and his colleagues put that simple idea to their Treasury colleagues?
Investment in Renewables: Household Energy Bills — House of Commons, 2022-03-29
Topic: Macroeconomics
George William Freeman (Conservative, Centre-right): I can assure my hon. Friend that lots of ideas have been put to Treasury colleagues. The truth is that the falling cost of UK renewables, with offshore wind now down 60% through the contract for difference, is the best protection against global supply chain volatility. This country has led the way. In the past 30 years, we have grown the economy by 78% and reduced emissions by 44%. The Government focused on helping consumers, households and businesses with direct support and that is why the Chancellor announced £9 billion of relief in his February package, £5 billion last week, contrary to the claim from the Opposition that nothing was done, and extra funding for the warm home scheme and winter fuel levy.
Investment in Renewables: Household Energy Bills — House of Commons, 2022-03-29
Topic: Energy
Luke Morgan Evans (Conservative, Centre-right): Constituents in Bosworth are concerned about three things: the cost of their energy bills, the environmental impact and the security of our energy supply. While being mindful of those three things, does my hon. Friend agree that a transition period is paramount while we deal with the fallout of a war, with rising energy prices and, of course, with meeting our net zero targets?
Investment in Renewables: Household Energy Bills — House of Commons, 2022-03-29
Topic: Energy
George William Freeman (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend makes an important point that has not been picked up by the Opposition. We are emerging from a global pandemic and experiencing a war in Europe. Those are two unprecedented shocks to the global energy system. The Government have done everything necessary through the pandemic and we are doing it again on energy, but in the end we are in a global energy market and the best strategy, as my hon. Friend sets out, is the transition plan we have put in place, with strong support for renewables and help with the cost of energy in the short term for consumers, businesses and households.
Investment in Renewables: Household Energy Bills — House of Commons, 2022-03-29
Topic: Energy
George William Freeman (Conservative, Centre-right): I am delighted to explain how Scotland can benefit from our renewables programme: the North sea transition deal, the net zero hydrogen fund, the industrial energy transformation fund, £20 million ringfenced for Scottish tidal, £40 million for carbon capture and storage, and £27 million for the Aberdeen energy transition zone. Frankly, we need fewer complaints from the Scottish nationalists and more support for the Scottish energy sector.
Investment in Renewables: Household Energy Bills — House of Commons, 2022-03-29
Topic: Energy
George William Freeman (Conservative, Centre-right): The evidence suggests that the UK is the fastest economy in the G7 in deploying renewables. Offshore wind costs have fallen by 60%. Of course, everyone can do more, but I do not accept the criticism that we have not been in the vanguard; we have been, and we are, and offshore wind and solar have been fundamental to reducing the cost of renewables. That is the best support against rising energy prices.
Energy Transition Projects in Scotland — House of Commons, 2022-03-29
Topic: Energy
George William Freeman (Conservative, Centre-right): I am delighted to assure hon. Members that Scotland is at the heart of the UK’s transition to net zero—something I hope they will welcome. In November last year, we committed £20 million to the funding for tidal stream projects through the contracts for difference, giving Scotland’s significant marine energy sector a chance to develop its expertise. We have also allocated £40 million in carbon capture development funding for the Acorn Project and £27 million for the Aberdeen energy transition zone.
Energy Transition Projects in Scotland — House of Commons, 2022-03-29
Topic: Energy
George William Freeman (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Gentleman makes an important point, which I will pass on to my hon. Friend the Energy Minister, who is currently suffering from covid. We have put money into the community energy fund. We are supporting community energy and we are passionate not just about the big infrastructure but, as the hon. Gentleman says, about community energy schemes.