argyrotsipi/train-dataset huggingface dataset:
Speaker’s Statement — House of Commons, 2019-10-21
Topic: Other
Robert Henry Halfon (Conservative, Centre-right): Further to that point of order, Mr Speaker. I respect your judgment and share your love of precedent, but given what you have said, and given that the House has already voted a number of times on holding a second referendum, and rejected it, will you apply the same precedent on repetitive votes in your deliberations if amendments proposing a second referendum are put forward?
Speaker’s Statement — House of Commons, 2019-10-21
Topic: Other
John Simon Bercow (Conservative, Centre-right): I am extremely grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for what he has said. The principle that I have enunciated has wider application. The same question convention applies to consideration of the same matter in the same Session. I very gently say to him that we are now in a new Session—a point that is so blindingly obvious that I am sure it will not have escaped the right hon. Gentleman, who is a very clever fellow, for a moment.
Speaker’s Statement — House of Commons, 2019-10-21
Topic: Other
Caroline Elizabeth Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): Further to that point of order, Mr Speaker. Some of my constituents have written to me today to express their concern that the reason the vote is not being allowed is that the result would go in the Government’s favour. I have heard the reasons that you have given for that, but on Saturday the amendment was brought forward by the right hon. Member for West Dorset (Sir Oliver Letwin), who has since said that, were the vote to be brought forward now, he would not amend it again, and that he would support the Government’s legislation. Is that not a sign that something has changed since Saturday?
Speaker’s Statement — House of Commons, 2019-10-21
Topic: Other
John Simon Bercow (Conservative, Centre-right): I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman, but I do not think that we should get ahead of ourselves. I certainly am not accusing the Leader of the House of discourtesy—in fact, I have celebrated his unfailing courtesy to me, and I think that he would acknowledge mine to him. We are going to hear from the Leader of the House with the business statement. If the hon. Gentleman wants to question the Leader of the House on the business statement, and to express his indignation, I very much doubt that any force on earth would stop him doing so If that exhausts for now the appetite of colleagues to raise points of order—I am grateful to colleagues for what they have said, and for the courtesy with which they have expressed themselves, whether they agree with my ruling or not—we will move on to the first of our urgent questions.
European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill and Extension Letter — House of Commons, 2019-10-21
Topic: Civil Rights
Stephen Paul Barclay (Conservative, Centre-right): I think it is somewhat ironic to hear a question about changing minds from a member of the Liberal Democrats, who were the first party to call for an in-out referendum, and who now want a people’s vote on the basis of ignoring the people’s vote that we have had.
European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill and Extension Letter — House of Commons, 2019-10-21
Topic: Other
John Simon Bercow (Conservative, Centre-right): Let me be the first to congratulate the hon. Gentleman on the birth of Arthur. We wish him a long, happy and healthy life. I had noticed the absence of the hon. Gentleman, and it is very good to welcome him back to the Chamber.
European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill and Extension Letter — House of Commons, 2019-10-21
Topic: Mixed Topics
Stephen Paul Barclay (Conservative, Centre-right): I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend that we need certainty, and the Prime Minister’s deal offers exactly that. What we have from those on the Opposition Benches is more dither, more delay, and a desire for a second referendum, but no clarity on how long that second referendum would take.
European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill and Extension Letter — House of Commons, 2019-10-21
Topic: Other
Stephen Paul Barclay (Conservative, Centre-right): The reality is that this is Parliament’s letter, and the Prime Minister has sent Parliament’s letter. However, he has been clear that he will comply with the law, and he has complied with the law, which is reflected in the comments of figures such as Lord Pannick, but the Prime Minister is also entitled to express his views, which is exactly what he has done.
European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill and Extension Letter — House of Commons, 2019-10-21
Topic: Other
John Simon Bercow (Conservative, Centre-right): I am not quite sure from her expression whether the right hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May) is welcoming the belated support of the hon. Member for Wellingborough (Mr Bone) or regretting the fact that it was not on offer at a rather earlier stage.
European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill and Extension Letter — House of Commons, 2019-10-21
Topic: Civil Rights
Stephen Paul Barclay (Conservative, Centre-right): I absolutely agree with my right hon. Friend. A second referendum would simply take us back to square one. It would create huge uncertainty and huge delay, and it would prolong the paralysis of this Parliament when we need a general election to let the people decide.
European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill and Extension Letter — House of Commons, 2019-10-21
Topic: Other
John Simon Bercow (Conservative, Centre-right): I think the hon. Gentleman was referring to a show at 9’o’clock on Sunday morning. I do periodically watch that programme—it is not top of my list of priorities, but occasionally I will observe it—but I am bound to say that it was a rather greater priority yesterday morning at 9 o’clock to be playing tennis.
European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill and Extension Letter — House of Commons, 2019-10-21
Topic: Other
Stephen Paul Barclay (Conservative, Centre-right): As I have said in response to several questions, the Prime Minister is entitled to express his view, and that should not come as a surprise to the hon. Gentleman. The Prime Minister has complied with the law, and leading legal figures such as Lord Pannick accept that he has done so. In addition, he has set out his view, as he is entitled to do.
European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill and Extension Letter — House of Commons, 2019-10-21
Topic: Mixed Topics
George Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative, Centre-right): I had not planned on speaking, but I just wanted to make a clear point that "Match of the Day" trumps anything else as far as I am concerned every time. Will my right hon. Friend explain something to me? It finally appears to be the Opposition’s position, although I am never clear whether that will change next week, that they want to have a second referendum. Will he explain what anybody could say to the British public when they say, "We didn’t trust you last time. Now you have to trust us that we will trust you again on a second referendum." How could they possibly believe or trust British politicians again?
European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill and Extension Letter — House of Commons, 2019-10-21
Topic: Other
John Simon Bercow (Conservative, Centre-right): I must tell the right hon. Member for Chingford and Woodford Green (Mr Duncan Smith) that he shares that penchant with the late and great Anthony Crosland, who greatly enjoyed watching "Match of the Day". He would often have colleagues around the dinner table in his home and they would be discussing political matters, but moments before "Match of the Day", Crosland would make it very clear that all further political discussion must cease as he proposed to watch the programme. He would usually don a bobble hat while doing so.
European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill and Extension Letter — House of Commons, 2019-10-21
Topic: Other
Stephen Paul Barclay (Conservative, Centre-right): As I think is the case with all MPs, there have been occasions when I have, for example, dictated letters to my parliamentary office, and they have been sent out as dictated and signed on my behalf.
European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill and Extension Letter — House of Commons, 2019-10-21
Topic: Mixed Topics
Stephen Paul Barclay (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Gentleman will get an opportunity to see the withdrawal agreement Bill once the two urgent questions are finished. On amendments, he will be aware that the scope of the Bill is quite wide, but what amendments are selected will always be for the Chair—the Speaker or, indeed, the Chairman of Ways and Means.
Northern Ireland: Restoring Devolution — House of Commons, 2019-10-21
Topic: Other
Questions: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to make a statement on progress towards restoring devolution in the light of today’s extension of the period in which the legal duty to call an Assembly election is removed under section 2 of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019.
John Simon Bercow (Conservative, Centre-right): Order. We will continue with the exchanges on the urgent question in a moment. Nominations closed at 5 o’clock this afternoon for candidates for the post of Chair of the Backbench Business Committee. One nomination has been received. A ballot will therefore not be held. I congratulate, and I hope the House will join me in congratulating, the hon. Member for Gateshead (Ian Mearns) on his re-election as Chair of the Backbench Business Committee. The assiduity and public-spiritedness of the hon. Gentleman are renowned throughout the House. Thank you Four nominations were received for the post of Chair of the Treasury Committee, and a ballot will be held between 10 am and 1.30 pm on 23 October in Committee Room 15.
Northern Ireland: Restoring Devolution — House of Commons, 2019-10-21
Topic: Civil Rights
Questions: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to make a statement on progress towards restoring devolution in the light of today’s extension of the period in which the legal duty to call an Assembly election is removed under section 2 of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019.
Simon James Hoare (Conservative, Centre-right): Thank you, Mr Speaker The people of Northern Ireland clearly want to see Stormont back up and running because they are seeing their health, their education and their welfare suffer. By making this extension, the Secretary of State has provided a window that could possibly see this House overcome the hurdle that seems insurmountable for the parties in Northern Ireland, and that is to legislate for the Irish Language Act, thereby taking it out of the debate between the principal parties in Northern Ireland and removing the hurdle that is the roadblock—I am sorry for mixing my metaphors—to getting Stormont back up and running.
Northern Ireland: Restoring Devolution — House of Commons, 2019-10-21
Topic: Mixed Topics
Questions: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to make a statement on progress towards restoring devolution in the light of today’s extension of the period in which the legal duty to call an Assembly election is removed under section 2 of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019.
Maria Colette Caulfield (Conservative, Centre-right): Given the absence of an Assembly and Executive, the Historical Institutional Abuse (Northern Ireland) Bill has to be passed in this place, and it will have its Second Reading in the House of Lords next week. What will happen to that Bill should the Assembly be restored? Will we continue with it, so that the victims get the compensation they need as soon as possible?
Northern Ireland: Restoring Devolution — House of Commons, 2019-10-21
Topic: Mixed Topics
Questions: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to make a statement on progress towards restoring devolution in the light of today’s extension of the period in which the legal duty to call an Assembly election is removed under section 2 of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019.
Julian Richard Smith (Conservative, Centre-right): As I said earlier, the parties and individuals who will play a part in the Assembly and the Executive when they are up and running again are of extremely high quality. There is every opportunity for us to get this up and running and for it to go from strength to strength. That is so much more in the interests of Northern Ireland than taking or restoring powers from here.
Northern Ireland: Restoring Devolution — House of Commons, 2019-10-21
Topic: Civil Rights
Questions: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to make a statement on progress towards restoring devolution in the light of today’s extension of the period in which the legal duty to call an Assembly election is removed under section 2 of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019.
Julian Richard Smith (Conservative, Centre-right): As I said at the start of my statement, we will be consulting on religious same-sex marriage and on the conversion of civil partnerships to marriages, but all other same-sex marriages will be delivered as per the regulations. The first such marriages will take place on the week of Valentine’s Day.
Northern Ireland: Restoring Devolution — House of Commons, 2019-10-21
Topic: Civil Rights
Questions: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to make a statement on progress towards restoring devolution in the light of today’s extension of the period in which the legal duty to call an Assembly election is removed under section 2 of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019.
Julian Richard Smith (Conservative, Centre-right): I understand the huge sensitivities around this issue, but there was a free vote in this House and the law was clear that if the Assembly and the Executive were not up and running by today, the law relating to same-sex marriage and abortion would change. We have now reached that point. With regard to funding for abortions, the Government will continue to pay for travel to England during this period, and we will ensure, as part of the consultation and the changes, that the health service in Northern Ireland has every resource it requires.
Preparations for Leaving the European Union — House of Commons, 2019-10-21
Topic: Mixed Topics
Michael Fallon (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and his colleagues and officials, for all the work they have done to help minimise any potential disruption in Kent. Can he also reassure the House that the security agreement with the EU that will be needed to help protect us against any further vulnerability to terrorism or organised crime will be put in place as soon as possible? Can he say what that timetable might be?
Preparations for Leaving the European Union — House of Commons, 2019-10-21
Topic: Mixed Topics
Michael Andrew Gove (Conservative, Centre-right): My right hon. Friend makes a good point. It is the case that we co-operate with EU nations in a variety in forums, not just through the EU; that the security of all benefits as a result; and that many of the shared tools for law enforcement and national security that we have allow EU citizens to benefit from intelligence gathered by our agencies. We hope to conclude a new arrangement as quickly as possible, as part of our future partnership with the EU. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has written to Frans Timmermans, the Commissioner responsible for security, to say that in the event of no deal we continue to share access to tools such as ECRIS—the European Criminal Records Information System—SIS II and Prüm. So far, Frans Timmermans has not indicated that he would collaborate, but we believe it is in everyone’s interests to ensure that we would.
Preparations for Leaving the European Union — House of Commons, 2019-10-21
Topic: Mixed Topics
John Alan Redwood (Conservative, Centre-right): There is no such thing as a no-deal exit; if we leave without the withdrawal agreement, there would be all sorts of agreements and arrangements in place. So will the Government do more to tell the country about the 2017 facilitation of trade agreement between all World Trade Organisation members to ensure smooth borders, the government international procurement agreement to allow Governments to transact business, and the customs, haulage and aviation arrangements and agreements, which are all in place. People should stop scaremongering.
Preparations for Leaving the European Union — House of Commons, 2019-10-21
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Steven John Baker (Conservative, Centre-right): I wholeheartedly congratulate my right hon. Friend and officials right across Government for the magnificent public information campaign that he is running. I hope he will not mind my saying that it is the campaign I would have dreamed of securing from the autumn of 2017 when I first started asking for one. Will he confirm that he has had adequate discussions with business groups to ensure that businesses are properly prepared?
Preparations for Leaving the European Union — House of Commons, 2019-10-21
Topic: Mixed Topics
Roger James Gale (Conservative, Centre-right): With or without a deal, my right hon. Friend is aware of the fact that I believe there is woefully inadequate provision for the healthcare and pensions of expat UK citizens. I would like to be able to support the withdrawal Bill. Can he give me an assurance that this matter is under active and positive consideration?
Preparations for Leaving the European Union — House of Commons, 2019-10-21
Topic: Immigration
Michael Andrew Gove (Conservative, Centre-right): The first thing, of course, is promoting a deal. The second thing to say is that there are tried and tested alternatives that we can use to make sure that we keep people in this country safe. The third thing is that, once we leave the European Union, there are a number of things that we can do, which the Home Secretary has outlined, that will allow us to be even safer. There are steps that the Border Force can take, steps that we can take on the border to no longer recognise ID cards, and steps that we can take to increase the criminality threshold for entry.
Preparations for Leaving the European Union — House of Commons, 2019-10-21
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Michael Jon Wood (Conservative, Centre-right): The shadow Minister cites Make UK, but it is clear that endless extensions are hugely damaging to its members’ interests. Is my right hon. Friend aware of any major business or organisation that is calling for yet more delays?
Election of Speaker — House of Commons, 2019-12-17
Topic: Other
Peter James Bottomley (Conservative, Centre-right): The whole House will want to join in the expression of the Leader of the Opposition and the Prime Minister about the tragedy at Fishmongers’ Hall and London Bridge Let me tell the Leader of the Opposition that he only heard half the Woolwich West story, since I was a member of the 1/128 branch of the Transport and General Workers’ Union in Transport House and knew quite a lot about what was going on. For instance, I knew which MPs were not standing again—such as Peter Shore—because they had not applied for re-sponsorship and the like. It was a marvellous experience for me. Let me also say to the Leader of the Opposition that none of us is always right and none of us is always wrong; and on the issues where he and I have agreed, I think we have been right Mr Speaker-Elect, the advice that you might give in private—but which I will give in public—to those joining us for the first or even the second time is that they should listen to their Whips, obey the Chair, think of the interests of their constituency and the nation, and do what they think is right. I think that is the kind of thing that Speakers would remind us to do. May I conclude by saying that there are many good things to say about many of your predecessors, but I do not think that any of them have been such a welcome choice as Speaker, and Speaker again, as you?
Leaving the EU: Tertiary Education — House of Commons, 2019-09-09
Topic: Other
Gavin Alexander Williamson (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Gentleman raises an important point. I know this matter has been raised with me by a number of Scottish Conservative and Unionist MPs and it is certainly something I am looking at closely, but I thank him for taking the time to raise it in the House.
Leaving the EU: Tertiary Education — House of Commons, 2019-09-09
Topic: Mixed Topics
Justine Greening (Conservative, Centre-right): I think leaving the European Union with no deal would be one of the most anti-social mobility steps this country could have taken in many years. Does the Secretary of State agree with me that the left-behind communities that are so often talked about by Ministers will be the ones worst hit? Perhaps the only double whammy that could follow that would be to scrap the opportunity areas, which are at least helping some of them to improve education standards.
Further and Higher Education: Quality and Choice — House of Commons, 2019-09-09
Topic: Other
Questions: Will the Secretary of State build on that good start by raising the rate for 16-to-19 education to £4,760 per student, which would deliver what is being asked for?
Gavin Alexander Williamson (Conservative, Centre-right): We will be looking at updating the House later on this year on our response to the Augar review. I met Philip Augar just a few weeks ago to discuss it in some depth. We will continue to keep the House updated over the coming months.
Further and Higher Education: Quality and Choice — House of Commons, 2019-09-09
Topic: Housing
Questions: Will the Secretary of State build on that good start by raising the rate for 16-to-19 education to £4,760 per student, which would deliver what is being asked for?
Gavin Alexander Williamson (Conservative, Centre-right): This is something we are taking a lead on. We are already in the process of devolving many responsibilities to locally elected mayors. I will be having further discussions with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on how we can make that work as efficiently and as well as possible to deliver the skills that are needed for our urban areas.
Apprenticeships: Quality — House of Commons, 2019-09-09
Topic: Mixed Topics
Gavin Alexander Williamson (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend raises an important point. We have already increased the amount of the levy being directed in that way from 10% to 25%. We will very much look at working closely across the whole region of East Anglia on how best we can support this important initiative that makes sure that young people who want the training and people who are retraining have the right skills to be competitive in the jobs market.
Children with Higher Needs: Stoke-on-Trent — House of Commons, 2019-09-09
Topic: Mixed Topics
Olukemi Olufunto Badenoch (Conservative, Centre-right): Next year local authorities, including Stoke-on-Trent City Council, will share in an increase of more than £700 million in higher-needs funding. We will hold separate discussions with the authorities that have raised specific issues with us.
Children with Higher Needs: Stoke-on-Trent — House of Commons, 2019-09-09
Topic: Mixed Topics
Olukemi Olufunto Badenoch (Conservative, Centre-right): We are aware of the issues that have arisen in Stoke-on-Trent. The commissioner is due to submit a report to the Department today, and officials will review it and submit recommendations to me in due course. Once a decision has been made, the report will be published.
Points of Order — House of Commons, 2019-09-09
Topic: Other
John Simon Bercow (Conservative, Centre-right): Thank you. I just say to the right hon. Gentleman, the Leader of the Opposition, that he is very much more experienced and senior than I, but I think that as Back Benchers in our respective parties we did have quite a lot in common. Certainly, speaking for myself, as a Back Bencher, and frequently as an Opposition Front Bencher, I found that I had a relationship with my Whips characterised by trust and understanding—I didn’t trust them and they didn’t understand me.