argyrotsipi/train-dataset huggingface dataset:
Defence Industry — House of Commons, 2018-01-15
Topic: Defense
Andrew Theakstone Percy (Conservative, Centre-right): One way to support defence exports is to make more of the "Five Eyes" relationship and the sharing of platforms. A great way to do that would be to have three, or perhaps four of the "Five Eyes" powers operating the same platforms, potentially on the same frigates. Will my right hon. Friend assure me that every effort will be made at the top of Government to support Type 26 exports?
Defence Industry — House of Commons, 2018-01-15
Topic: Defense
Gavin Alexander Williamson (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend makes an important point about exploiting the "Five Eyes" relationship in terms of defence exports. I have raised that with my Australian and Canadian counterparts. We need to create a platform that uses not just British products, but Canadian and Australian products, to encourage them to purchase the platform.
Defence Industry — House of Commons, 2018-01-15
Topic: Defense
Gavin Alexander Williamson (Conservative, Centre-right): Later this afternoon, I will be meeting the Qatari Defence Minister to try to push the issue of making sure that we deliver on the statement of intent and the deal in terms of the purchase of the six Hawk aircraft. I have also taken the opportunity to meet the Emir of Kuwait, as well as the Prime Minister and the Defence Secretary, to push the 12 Hawk aircraft that we are desperately hoping the Kuwaitis will look at purchasing. This will have an important impact on the hon. Lady’s constituency and so many others.
Defence Industry — House of Commons, 2018-01-15
Topic: Defense
Gavin Alexander Williamson (Conservative, Centre-right): What we have been doing is working to get a clear idea of what the Army needs going forward. The Under-Secretary of State for Defence, my hon. Friend the Member for Aberconwy, is new to the job. He will be looking at the options as to how we take this forward and making sure that we get the best deal and the best value, as well as the right equipment for the British Army. He will be looking at the details as he gets his feet under the desk.
Strategic Equality Objectives — House of Commons, 2018-01-15
Topic: Defense
Tobias Martin Ellwood (Conservative, Centre-right): The MOD increasingly strives to become a more diverse and inclusive organisation. The defence diversity and inclusion strategy is currently being reviewed to ensure it is continuing to have the desired impact on the organisation. I look forward to publishing a paper later this year.
Strategic Equality Objectives — House of Commons, 2018-01-15
Topic: Defense
James Whiteside Gray (Conservative, Centre-right): I strongly support the Minister’s ambition to encourage more BAME people and women to join the armed forces, but what has led him to the conclusion that the new advertising campaign to which he alluded a moment ago, which is rather less than robust in my view, will be any more successful in doing that than the good old-fashioned "Be the Best"?
Strategic Equality Objectives — House of Commons, 2018-01-15
Topic: Defense
Edward Julian Egerton Leigh (Conservative, Centre-right): Of course the armed forces should be welcoming and open to all, irrespective of their gender, race or sexuality, but is it not better to state this in general terms? After all, we are all part of a minority—as you have alluded to, Mr Speaker, I am part of many minorities in my views—and the armed forces should be representative of the whole nation.
Daesh (Syria and Iraq) — House of Commons, 2018-01-15
Topic: Defense
Gavin Alexander Williamson (Conservative, Centre-right): The Government’s policy on the use of remotely piloted air systems to target Daesh fighters in Syria and Iraq is no different from targeting conducted by a manned aircraft. All UK targeting is conducted in accordance with UK and international law.
Daesh (Syria and Iraq) — House of Commons, 2018-01-15
Topic: Defense
Royston Matthew Smith (Conservative, Centre-right): Our drones are piloted in the same way as fixed-wing strike aircraft, but the pilots do not have the same service life as pilots in frontline squadrons. Some drone pilots find it difficult to switch between being on live operations and being at home with their families. Will the Secretary of State confirm what support we give to drone pilots, and does it recognise the peculiar circumstances of their role?
Daesh (Syria and Iraq) — House of Commons, 2018-01-15
Topic: Defense
Gavin Alexander Williamson (Conservative, Centre-right): We recognise that this is a new form of warfare, and we have been working very closely with those engaged in it, making sure they have that support and that it is put in place before they go on operations, during and after. We are also working very closely with the United States air force to make sure we learn the lessons they have learned over the past few years so that our service personnel might benefit.
Armed Forces Compensation Scheme — House of Commons, 2018-01-15
Topic: Defense
Tobias Martin Ellwood (Conservative, Centre-right): The Ministry of Defence is carefully considering the recommendations of the armed forces compensation scheme review. It has always been the intention to publish a response a year after the publication of the review, which came out in February 2017.
Royal Navy: Capability and Strength — House of Commons, 2018-01-15
Topic: Defense
Mark Lancaster (Conservative, Centre-right): The Government are committed to increasing our maritime power to project our influence across the world and promote national prosperity. Growing for the first time in a generation, we will spend £63 billion on new ships and submarines over the next decade. We are also committed to increasing the number of personnel in the Royal Navy.
Royal Navy: Capability and Strength — House of Commons, 2018-01-15
Topic: Defense
Kevin John Foster (Conservative, Centre-right): As the Minister will know, the strongest arm of the Royal Navy is the Royal Marines. Will he update the House on the work that is ongoing to transform the Royal Marines home base in south Devon into a world-leading facility and how it will enhance our national amphibious capability plans to ensure that we continue to meet our NATO and national priorities?
Royal Navy: Capability and Strength — House of Commons, 2018-01-15
Topic: Defense
Mark Lancaster (Conservative, Centre-right): In my previous role, I was responsible for the better defence estate strategy. I can confirm that it remains the intention to dispose of the Royal Citadel and Stonehouse in 2024 and Chivenor in 2027, and to provide units for the Royal Marines in either Plymouth or Torpoint. I cannot confirm exactly what form that will take at this stage, as further work is required, but I will update the House in due course.
Royal Navy: Capability and Strength — House of Commons, 2018-01-15
Topic: Defense
Mark Lancaster (Conservative, Centre-right): I am sorry to have to disappoint the hon. Gentleman, but I can only repeat what has already been said: the Government take the security of our nation incredibly seriously. I think it is far more important to ensure that the review is robust, comprehensive and detailed than to rush to make announcements simply to appease the hon. Gentleman.
Royal Navy: Capability and Strength — House of Commons, 2018-01-15
Topic: Defense
Julian Murray Lewis (Conservative, Centre-right): May we take a moment to acknowledge the courageous service of Surgeon-Captain Rick Jolly, whose death has just been announced? He was the only person to be awarded a gallantry medal by both sides in the Falklands war Will the Minister please take back to those conducting the review the united opinion on both sides of the House that any loss of frigates and amphibious vessels before their due out-of-service dates would be totally unacceptable?
Royal Navy: Capability and Strength — House of Commons, 2018-01-15
Topic: Defense
Mark Lancaster (Conservative, Centre-right): I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for highlighting the very sad passing of Commander Rick Jolly. He was indeed an absolute legend, and the service that he provided in the Falklands is worth reading about. It is unique to have been given awards for gallantry by both the United Kingdom and the Argentine forces. I also note my right hon. Friend’s other point.
Royal Navy: Capability and Strength — House of Commons, 2018-01-15
Topic: Defense
Richard Grosvenor Plunkett-Ernle-Erle-Drax (Conservative, Centre-right): Thank you very much, Mr Speaker May I reiterate what Members on both sides of the House have said so far, and add my concerns to those that have already been expressed about the future of the Royal Marines and the Royal Navy? I believe that any cutting of the Royal Marines or any further part of our amphibious fleet—HMS Ocean having already gone to the Brazilians—is absolutely out of order and totally unacceptable.
Royal Navy: Capability and Strength — House of Commons, 2018-01-15
Topic: Defense
Mark Lancaster (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend is a champion of the armed forces, and I am of course aware of his own service. I can only repeat what has already been said, but I entirely recognise the contribution made by both the Royal Marines and the Royal Navy. I was deeply honoured to be able to award green berets to our Royal Marines back in 2016, having accompanied them for a short run across the moor. I am only too well aware of what they are capable of, and I note my hon. Friend’s concerns.
Royal Navy: Capability and Strength — House of Commons, 2018-01-15
Topic: Defense
Mark Lancaster (Conservative, Centre-right): It is deeply disappointing that the hon. Lady once again comes to the Dispatch Box almost trying to talk down our Royal Navy. As is clear from the opening comments, we are absolutely committed to some £63 billion-worth of investment in our Royal Navy. Only shortly before Christmas we saw the Queen Elizabeth arriving in Portsmouth, after £120 million worth of investment in Portsmouth. We have now laid the first contracts for the first three Type 26s, and we are looking at Type 31s, and there are also nine new P-8 aircraft. The investment in our Royal Navy is significant, so for the hon. Lady to come to the Dispatch Box and simply try to talk it down is deeply disappointing.
Royal Navy: Capability and Strength — House of Commons, 2018-01-15
Topic: Defense
Mark Lancaster (Conservative, Centre-right): We seem to be switching seamlessly from the Navy to the Army. [Interruption.] If it is in order, that is fine, but there is continuing work on recruitment in the Army. I am pleased to say that compared with this period last year, applications are up about 20%. There have been some minor glitches in the new computer system, but they are being ironed out and I am confident that we will see recruitment into the Army increasing.
Future Accommodation Model — House of Commons, 2018-01-15
Topic: Defense
Tobias Martin Ellwood (Conservative, Centre-right): Let us turn this around: this is not about saving money; it is about offering choice to those whom we want to keep in our armed forces. One of the reasons why individuals choose to leave is that there is no choice; they look over their shoulders and see people in civilian streets able to invest in a house, or to rent or to buy and so forth, and that is exactly what we want to offer those in the armed forces.
Future Accommodation Model — House of Commons, 2018-01-15
Topic: Defense
Mark Gino Francois (Conservative, Centre-right): The most pressing worry of service personnel tonight in terms of the future of their accommodation will be that the parent company of the company that provides the maintenance of their quarters has just gone bust. Given the great importance of its service to service personnel, particularly in the middle of winter, may I press the Minister further and ask what plan B has the Defence Infrastructure Organisation come up with to make sure that maintenance will continue for service personnel throughout the winter?
Future Accommodation Model — House of Commons, 2018-01-15
Topic: Defense
Tobias Martin Ellwood (Conservative, Centre-right): My right hon. Friend is right to raise this important question. There will be questions about the future of Carillion, and I understand that a statement on the matter will follow Defence questions. From the Defence perspective, we should recognise that a plan B was inherent in all the contracts. These are joint ventures, and if one of the companies steps back, there is an obligation on the other company to move forward and fill the space. We have been working on this for some time, and we have been prepared for this moment.
Future Accommodation Model — House of Commons, 2018-01-15
Topic: Defense
Nigel Paul Huddleston (Conservative, Centre-right): I am fortunate enough to have visited several airbases recently as part of the armed forces parliamentary scheme, and many airmen and women have expressed their concern about the significant differences in off-base accommodation across the country. How can we address this concern if there is no differential in pay in the future accommodation model?
Future Accommodation Model — House of Commons, 2018-01-15
Topic: Defense
Tobias Martin Ellwood (Conservative, Centre-right): First, I pay tribute to the armed forces parliamentary scheme. Looking round the Chamber, I hope that there is not a single person who has not either done the course or signed up for it, because it gives a fantastic and valuable insight into what our brave armed forces personnel are doing. In relation to the future accommodation model, it is important that people should not be disfranchised because of funding, and we need to ensure that, no matter where someone might rent, it will be about the same up and down the country. That will be the plan.
Future Accommodation Model — House of Commons, 2018-01-15
Topic: Defense
Tobias Martin Ellwood (Conservative, Centre-right): First, I extend my welcome to the Under-Secretary of State for Defence, my hon. Friend the Member for Aberconwy, the new procurement Minister. He is very welcome indeed. In relation to the hon. Gentleman’s question, we need to understand what those calls are. If someone is phoning up to get a lightbulb replaced, does that mean that they are dissatisfied with the service, or do they simply need a new lightbulb? Let us be honest about what those calls actually are. A process also exists so that when someone is prevented from, say, getting a new lightbulb, they are compensated for the inconvenience caused.
Future Accommodation Model — House of Commons, 2018-01-15
Topic: Defense
Tobias Martin Ellwood (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right; it should not be flippant about something that is so important. I should explain, however, that an awful lot of calls come through that relate to the everyday management of these locations. Yes, there are occasions when someone’s boiler has gone and we need to ensure that the individual family is compensated. Under a former Defence Secretary a couple of years ago, we called the company in to say that standards were slipping and needed to be improved. The satisfaction surveys that have come back since then show that there has been a dramatic increase, but yes, we still need to keep working at this.
European Defence Agency/Fund — House of Commons, 2018-01-15
Topic: Defense
Questions: What discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the UK’s future participation in the European Defence Agency and the European Defence Fund.
Guto ap Owain Bebb (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank Members on both sides of the House for their warm welcome. I should also like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to my predecessor for the work that she has done in this role for the past two years. Ministerial colleagues and I regularly discuss defence co-operation with our European partners. The Government are clear that they are seeking a deep and special partnership with the EU, including on security matters. It is important that UK and European industry can continue to work together to deliver the capabilities we need to keep us safe, and we look forward to discussing options for future co-operation during the next phase of the negotiations.
European Defence Agency/Fund — House of Commons, 2018-01-15
Topic: Defense
Questions: What discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the UK’s future participation in the European Defence Agency and the European Defence Fund.
Guto ap Owain Bebb (Conservative, Centre-right): The impact would be significant, and everybody would recognise that. However, going back to my previous point, the Government’s intention is to ensure that, despite leaving the European Union, our relationship with our European partners on security and defence is enhanced and strengthened.
European Defence Agency/Fund — House of Commons, 2018-01-15
Topic: Defense
Questions: What discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the UK’s future participation in the European Defence Agency and the European Defence Fund.
Guto ap Owain Bebb (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Gentleman is making a statement that I do not recognise. This country is still one of the largest defence spenders in the world and still meets its obligations within NATO, and our European partners are well aware that the United Kingdom has a huge amount to offer them moving forward. The picture painted by the hon. Gentleman does not reflect the reality.
Munitions Workers (First and Second World Wars) — House of Commons, 2018-01-15
Topic: Defense
Mark Lancaster (Conservative, Centre-right): I am sure that the whole House will join me in paying tribute to the thousands who worked in munitions factories during both world wars. They produced vital equipment that helped us to final victory. For practical reasons, it is not possible to pursue individual awards, but the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy would be happy to work with colleagues across the House to look at further ways of recognising the collective effort of former munitions workers.
Munitions Workers (First and Second World Wars) — House of Commons, 2018-01-15
Topic: Defense
Mark Lancaster (Conservative, Centre-right): Once again, I can only pay tribute to those constituents who played such an important part in the second world war—those who took part in world war one are no longer around—and I absolutely recognise the urgency. We had a similar issue when it came to the French Légion d’Honneur, so mechanisms are in place, but I will pursue this as a matter of urgency.
War Widows — House of Commons, 2018-01-15
Topic: Defense
Tobias Martin Ellwood (Conservative, Centre-right): Mr Speaker, that is why you are the Speaker and I am just a Minister While much attention in defence debates focuses on those in uniform, we must recognise the unique commitment that families make to our country in supporting those who actually serve. I have met the War Widows’ Association of Great Britain on several occasions and have listened carefully to its case for the reinstatement of war widows’ pensions for those widows who remarried or cohabited before 1 April 2015. The Secretary of State is already apprised of the issue, and we are now considering a way forward.
War Widows — House of Commons, 2018-01-15
Topic: Defense
Tobias Martin Ellwood (Conservative, Centre-right): I would be delighted to meet the hon. Lady, particularly given her experience of this matter. It is a very difficult issue, and we must recognise that war widows’ pensions are not compensation for the loss of a spouse but are paid to assist with maintenance. We must pay tribute to any family who have undertaken the burden of losing somebody in uniform to the service of this country.
Armed Forces: Pay and Retention — House of Commons, 2018-01-15
Topic: Defense
Tobias Martin Ellwood (Conservative, Centre-right): As the House is aware, pay rates are recommended by the independent Armed Forces Pay Review Body, and by the Senior Salaries Review Body for the most senior officers. The next set of recommendations are expected in the spring.
Armed Forces: Pay and Retention — House of Commons, 2018-01-15
Topic: Defense
Tobias Martin Ellwood (Conservative, Centre-right): I hope the whole House would agree that pay is not the reason why people join the armed forces. Nor is it the reason why people choose to leave the armed forces, but we do not want it to become one. That is why I am pleased that the Armed Forces Pay Review Body has been liberated from the 1% pay freeze that has existed for a number of years.
Armed Forces: Pay and Retention — House of Commons, 2018-01-15
Topic: Defense
Tobias Martin Ellwood (Conservative, Centre-right): I repeat: the important situational change is that the 1% pay freeze has been lifted. It is up to the pay review body to make its recommendations. We should also recognise that it is not simple basic pay. There is a complex process involved in armed forces pay, including progression pay, the X factor and a variety of allowances that must also be incorporated and considered.
Armed Forces: Mental Health Support — House of Commons, 2018-01-15
Topic: Health
Tobias Martin Ellwood (Conservative, Centre-right): There has been a comprehensive change in how we deal with mental health issues in the armed forces, as outlined in the mental health and wellbeing strategy, which I was privileged to launch last year. We are already seeing the start of a cultural change in removing the stigma that for so long has been associated with those wanting to raise mental health concerns during their service time.
Armed Forces: Mental Health Support — House of Commons, 2018-01-15
Topic: Defense
Tobias Martin Ellwood (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Lady is absolutely right, and it is why we had to introduce such a fundamental change in our strategy. People were not coming forward. If someone has a knee injury, they declare it, they show it, they get it sorted out and they get back into the line. If they had something wrong with their mind, soldiers, sailors and air personnel were reticent to step forward. That is now changing. We are changing the stigma, and we are grateful to the support of the Royal Foundation for providing funding for extra studies on this important matter.
Armed Forces: Mental Health Support — House of Commons, 2018-01-15
Topic: Health
John Luther Mercer (Conservative, Centre-right): Does my right hon. Friend agree that we need to be very careful with this narrative on veterans? If we go too far down the road of promoting the idea that we are all broken and contribute nothing, it will not help us to beat the challenge and to present mental health treatments on a fair and acceptable footing for our armed forces.
Armed Forces: Mental Health Support — House of Commons, 2018-01-15
Topic: Defense
Tobias Martin Ellwood (Conservative, Centre-right): I shall take this opportunity to explain that the absolute majority of the 14,000 who leave the armed forces every single year make the transition into civilian life without a problem. In fact, 90% or so are either in education or in a job within six months. However, some require support, and often that they do not know where to find that support. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State mentioned the armed forces veterans’ gateway, which is an important portal that opens up more than 400 military-facing charities that can provide that support for our deserving veterans.
Royal Air Force: Pilots — House of Commons, 2018-01-15
Topic: Defense
Mark Lancaster (Conservative, Centre-right): I absolutely recognise that we need to retain our experienced pilots, and of course a number of financial retention schemes are in place to do that. Equally, pilots have the choice as to whether or not they remain flying, by going into a specialist flying scheme, or stop flying, by going into the general scheme. Since the announcement that we would be buying nine P-8s, I have been deeply encouraged by the number of commercial pilots who have left the RAF and now want to re-join.