argyrotsipi/train-dataset huggingface dataset:
Ajax Programme — House of Commons, 2021-06-08
Topic: Mixed Topics
Jeremy Mark Quin (Conservative, Centre-right): Yes, we are absolutely committed to Ajax. We have come a long way with this project. It was originally approved by Ministers of a different colour back in March 2010, and in saying that I acknowledge that it has been a long time coming. However, we are on the cusp of getting this right and getting it sorted. There are issues that need to be resolved—I recognise that—but we will resolve those issues and we will bring it into service.
Ajax Programme — House of Commons, 2021-06-08
Topic: Mixed Topics
Jacob Young (Conservative, Centre-right): Can the Minister update us on how UK suppliers are involved in the Ajax project, and does he agree with me that projects such as this provide the opportunity to support British jobs in steel, textiles and other types of heavy industry, while protecting our troops on operations?
Ajax Programme — House of Commons, 2021-06-08
Topic: Mixed Topics
Jeremy Mark Quin (Conservative, Centre-right): I am so glad that my right hon. Friend asks that question, because it requires a very simple answer: absolutely. Unfortunately, as he rightly says, there has been a long pattern of delays with the project, but we are not going to take into service something that does not meet our requirements. It is a firm price contract; we need to have it right, and take it into service when it is right to do that. We are not going to obfuscate in order to do so.
Ajax Programme — House of Commons, 2021-06-08
Topic: Other
Jeremy Mark Quin (Conservative, Centre-right): My right hon. Friend speaks with considerable experience, and I thank him for what he says about the production line. I do not know whether he ever had the chance to visit Merthyr. He probably did.
Ajax Programme — House of Commons, 2021-06-08
Topic: Mixed Topics
Jeremy Mark Quin (Conservative, Centre-right): My understanding is that those turrets have been built by Lockheed Martin and are being constructed in Ampthill in Bedfordshire. That is my understanding, but I will double-check. If it is any different, I will write to the hon. Gentleman and leave a copy of my letter in the Library of the House of Commons. It is my understanding that that is happening at Ampthill.
Ajax Programme — House of Commons, 2021-06-08
Topic: Mixed Topics
Jeremy Mark Quin (Conservative, Centre-right): With the greatest respect to the hon. Lady, the report to which she referred was published prior to the injection of the additional £24 billion earlier this year. As a result of that, we will be publishing an equipment plan that will add up. I recognise that that will be for the first time in many years, and under successive Governments, but we will have a plan of which we can all be proud.
British Council — House of Commons, 2021-06-08
Topic: Mixed Topics
Nigel Adams (Conservative, Centre-right): May I just correct the record? I may have said Stewart McDonald was the incoming CEO. I was confusing him with one of our colleagues; it is Scott McDonald who will be the new chief executive. [Interruption.] Two of our colleagues! Crikey. I am sorry to disappoint the two in question. Anyway, Scott will do a fantastic job leading the British Council The hon. Member for Rochdale (Tony Lloyd) makes a good point. Of course we talk across Government—across all our network. We have BEIS employees in posts where there are British Council employees around the country, and we will continue to do that. We want to support the Council in continuing its brilliant role in ensuring that our United Kingdom soft power is enhanced through its work overseas.
British Council — House of Commons, 2021-06-08
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Jerome Patrick Burke Mayhew (Conservative, Centre-right): While it is generally agreed across the House that the soft power applied on behalf of the UK by the British Council has been enormous, surely we must take account of the fact that thousands—in fact, tens of thousands—of businesses across this country have had to adjust to the financial disaster that covid has applied to them. The British Council should do no other than that, despite having hundreds of millions of pounds support from this Government.
Employment Rights — House of Commons, 2021-06-08
Topic: Mixed Topics
Paul Stuart Scully (Conservative, Centre-right): We have a good history of increasing the funding for enforcement measures, as I have already outlined. Indeed, the single enforcement body, when we are able to introduce it through legislation, will have sufficient funding not only to do its work, but to transition from those three bodies into one.
Employment Rights — House of Commons, 2021-06-08
Topic: Mixed Topics
Maria Frances Lewis Miller (Conservative, Centre-right): I welcome the Government’s statement, because a strong economy utilises all the talents of its workforce. Despite some very strong laws, one in four pregnant women or women on maternity leave experienced discrimination during the pandemic. The Minister knows that every year more than 50,000 pregnant women feel that they have no option but to leave their jobs because they are pregnant. Can he confirm that the new enforcement body will be looking specifically at enforcing pregnant women’s rights at work and outlawing the use of non-disclosure agreements to cover up illegal employment rights abuses?
Employment Rights — House of Commons, 2021-06-08
Topic: Mixed Topics
Paul Stuart Scully (Conservative, Centre-right): I congratulate my right hon. Friend on the work that she continues to do in this area. The law is absolutely clear that discrimination in the workplace is unlawful, with clear regulations in place that every employer must follow. The pandemic has not changed any of that. There is no place for that under any circumstances. We believe that the most appropriate way forward for pregnant women and new mothers is to extend the existing framework of protections set out under regulation 10 of the Maternity and Parental Leave etc. Regulations 1999. We will do that by extending redundancy protections for six months for mothers returning to work and ensuring that pregnant women also benefit from these additional protections. We will bring these forward as part of the employment Bill, which will also be the vehicle that will bring the single enforcement body together.
Employment Rights — House of Commons, 2021-06-08
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Paul Stuart Scully (Conservative, Centre-right): Nobody wants these restrictions to go on a single day longer than they need to. We are in the middle of a frustrating period, with the decision to be made on the 14th of this month. We are looking at the data, and every day that goes by gives us a richer set of data to make the best decision for businesses.
Employment Rights — House of Commons, 2021-06-08
Topic: Mixed Topics
Paul Stuart Scully (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank my hon. Friend, as ever, for her considered response in this area, with the expertise that she brings to bear. Clearly, as I say, nothing is off the table. We are putting the guidance in place with ACAS, but we will look at more measures should we need to.
0.7% Official Development Assistance Target — House of Commons, 2021-06-08
Topic: Mixed Topics
Stephen Paul Barclay (Conservative, Centre-right): The provisional data shows that for the 2020 ODA figures, the 0.7% was met. The point is that the Act allows for the economic and fiscal instance that I just set out—it is in section 2. If the UK were to spend 0.7% of gross national income as ODA, it would cost the country an additional £4.3 billion this year. Given our commitment to fiscal sustainability, we could offset that either by raising taxes or by cutting public spending. [Interruption.] We can come on to that. To put that in context, it means a 1p increase in the basic rate of income tax or about a 1% increase in the standard rate of VAT at a time when taxes are at a historical high.
0.7% Official Development Assistance Target — House of Commons, 2021-06-08
Topic: Other
Andrew John Bower Mitchell (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend is making an extremely good and sensible speech. May I thank him for the immense amount of hard work and leadership he has undertaken in advancing this argument and getting it to this point today?
0.7% Official Development Assistance Target — House of Commons, 2021-06-08
Topic: Other
Anthony James Holland Mangnall (Conservative, Centre-right): On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. Yesterday, Mr Speaker said that the Government should come forward with a vote in this House; he was pretty insistent on it, in fact. Today, I see that the press officer of No. 10 has suggested that there will be no vote on the 0.7% because the Government feel that they do not have to have one. Could you provide some guidance on whether that is in keeping with what Mr Speaker said?
Compensation (London Capital & Finance plc and Fraud Compensation Fund) Bill — House of Commons, 2021-06-08
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Guy Thomas Opperman (Conservative, Centre-right): I beg to move, That the Bill be read a Second time In the United Kingdom there are a wide range of opportunities for people to invest. The Government’s role is to try to ensure that the system of regulation and financial investment is suitably robust, so that individuals are treated fairly and have confidence in the financial system in which they invest. Unfortunately, no system of regulation can completely eradicate the risk that firms fail, or that there are bad actors intent on committing fraud. This short Bill is aimed at two areas where it is necessary for the Government to step in Clause 1 relates to a new Government scheme to compensate London Capital & Finance bond holders who lost money after the firm entered administration in 2019. Clause 2 will arrange a loan to the board of the pension protection fund to pay compensation to occupational pension scheme members who have been victims of pension fraud, following the recent High Court judgment in the case of PPF v. Dalriada. I will now expand briefly on those measures in detail.
Compensation (London Capital & Finance plc and Fraud Compensation Fund) Bill — House of Commons, 2021-06-08
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Kevin Paul Hollinrake (Conservative, Centre-right): Powers are one thing, willingness is another. The FCA has shown a remarkable reluctance to hold people to account for incompetence or bad actors, as the Minister said. Will not those failings simply continue unless the FCA starts identifying individuals, within its own ranks or within the banks, for those failings, and holds them to account?
Compensation (London Capital & Finance plc and Fraud Compensation Fund) Bill — House of Commons, 2021-06-08
Topic: Mixed Topics
James Nelson Grundy (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank the Minister and the Economic Secretary to the Treasury for bringing this Bill to the House. I welcome this Second Reading debate and am pleased that the Government are making tangible progress. I also thank Dame Gloster for her report and welcome the fact that the Government have accepted its nine recommendations. My contribution will be brief and I hope that, given the time constraints, Members will forgive me for not taking interventions Will my hon. Friend the Economic Secretary clarify whether bondholders will be required to surrender all their bonds to qualify for the Government’s scheme? If that is the case, some of my constituents who invested considerable sums in the scheme will be forced to surrender all their bonds, regardless of the amount invested, to receive the maximum £68,000 of compensation offered by the Government, as opposed to their being able to surrender a portion of their bonds to gain access to the Government’s compensation scheme while still potentially being able to receive further dividend payments direct from the administrators, thereby ensuring that their loss is reduced. My constituents need clarity and it would be most welcome if the Department would consider that. I recently wrote to my hon. Friend about this matter and very much look forward to hearing his response.
National Food Strategy: Small-scale Family Farms — House of Commons, 2021-07-22
Topic: Mixed Topics
Neil Quentin Gordon Parish (Conservative, Centre-right): The National Food Strategy has recommended that the Government must define the minimum standards we will accept in future free trade deals and a "mechanism for protecting them". The report says that without that there is "serious peril" that tariff-free deals could not only "compromise" our own attempts to drive up these standards, but allow cheap imports, which would "undercut" our farmers. Given that the Trade and Agriculture Commission already made exactly that recommendation in its March report, almost five months ago, can the Secretary of State tell me when these core standards will be set out and whether that mechanism for defending them will be in place before the Australia deal is signed?
Leaks from Water Mains — House of Commons, 2021-07-22
Topic: Mixed Topics
Robert James MacGillivray Neill (Conservative, Centre-right): The problem we have in Bromley is that 95% of the mains are cast iron, according to Thames Water, and are therefore much, much more liable to breaking, rather than the average in London of 50% to 60%. It means we have repeated leaks, often in the same place, patched up time and time again. We had 133 in one postcode area in four months, in one instance. This is actually causing real issues for my constituents. Can we have a specific programme to replace outdated Victorian infrastructure and bring it up to purpose for the 21st century?
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2021-07-22
Topic: Public Lands
Charles George Eustice (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Gentleman is incorrect in that the capital spending on floods is increasing to £5.2 billion. That is almost a doubling of the previous programme. We have held meetings around the Yorkshire area, and Yorkshire will be one of the key beneficiaries from that investment we are making.
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2021-07-22
Topic: Housing
Charles George Eustice (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend makes a very important point. Some of the challenges we have are typically with houses built in the Victorian era where, as she says, the street drainage system goes into the foul water sewage system. That can lead to it being overwhelmed at times. Most developments that have taken place since the 1960s do have surface water drainage separated from foul water sewage systems. We have set up a taskforce to look at how we can address this problem and, in particular, reduce the use of combined sewage overflows.
Social Prescribing — House of Commons, 2021-07-22
Topic: Mixed Topics
Andrew Edmund Armstrong Selous (Conservative, Centre-right): I am grateful to the hon. Lady for praising the valuable work that clergy do in this area. Examples of Church social prescribing include our therapeutic gardening projects, often in urban areas, and the new cycle routes to all our 42 cathedrals. Nearer to her, the Joyful Connections café at St Luke’s church in York is linked to a GP social prescribing scheme and has run dementia-friendly church services. Indeed, a 2018 American Journal of Epidemiology study showed the positive impact on wellbeing and mental health of faith in Jesus and being a Church member.
Public Worship and Singing in Church — House of Commons, 2021-07-22
Topic: Mixed Topics
Caroline Ansell (Conservative, Centre-right): It has been nearly a year since people in churches could lift their voices in song, and this Sunday there will be joy. But for some church leaders, some concern seems to remain, despite the very well established and known physical and mental benefits associated with singing. Does my hon. Friend agree that those benefits should be very much in the hearts and minds of decision makers as they look at how to progress this summer?
Persecution for Religion or Belief — House of Commons, 2021-07-22
Topic: Civil Rights
Jacob Young (Conservative, Centre-right): In Nigeria, violence against Christians is ongoing. Since December, there have been 10 mass kidnappings and repeated attacks on churches and religious leaders. The week before last, 30 people were killed and 200 homes and four churches were destroyed. What is the Church doing to bring that to global leaders’ attention so that this appalling suffering can be brought to an end?
Persecution for Religion or Belief — House of Commons, 2021-07-22
Topic: Mixed Topics
Andrew Edmund Armstrong Selous (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank my hon. Friend for raising this issue. We sometimes need to pause for a moment to take in the enormity of what is happening. The Church of England continues to press the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to provide the financial and technical assistance necessary to address these horrendous violations of religious freedom. The Church is also working to enable parliamentarians in Nigeria and elsewhere to hold to account those who perpetuate such horrific violence. These victims will not be forgotten by us.
Restoration and Renewal — House of Commons, 2021-07-22
Topic: Mixed Topics
Damian Patrick George Hinds (Conservative, Centre-right): The Sponsor Body, supported by the Delivery Authority, is currently developing the detailed plan that will for the first time give an accurate sense of the costs and timescales and the full detail of the work needed for restoration and renewal. It will be put before both Houses for a decision before works commence. Securing best value for money is fundamental.
Restoration and Renewal — House of Commons, 2021-07-22
Topic: Mixed Topics
David Timothy Simmonds (Conservative, Centre-right): Given that the House has debated the subject numerous times, supported the Joint Committee’s 2016 proposal and passed the Parliamentary Buildings (Restoration and Renewal) Act 2019, does my right hon. Friend agree that continually re-examining the scope and cost of the project increases the risk that we are not making our national Parliament fit for purpose and runs the risk of us having our own Notre-Dame moment with our beautiful and historic building?
Restoration and Renewal — House of Commons, 2021-07-22
Topic: Public Lands
Damian Patrick George Hinds (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend is right to mention the terrible fire at Notre-Dame, which serves as a reminder to us all of the risk to our great heritage assets. He is also right that putting off works tends to increase costs eventually, so I agree entirely about the time sensitivity of action and thank him for his timely reminder.
Restoration and Renewal: Opportunities for Harrogate and Knaresborough — House of Commons, 2021-07-22
Topic: Mixed Topics
Damian Patrick George Hinds (Conservative, Centre-right): Restoring Parliament will use UK materials wherever possible and create jobs and apprenticeships in the supply chain across the UK, from high-tech design to traditional stonemasonry. My hon. Friend will be pleased to know that the project has already engaged with a Harrogate business providing professional services on procuring works on a value-for-money and UK-wide basis.
Restoration and Renewal: Opportunities for Harrogate and Knaresborough — House of Commons, 2021-07-22
Topic: Public Lands
Andrew Hanson Jones (Conservative, Centre-right): I am grateful to hear that—I did not know about that Harrogate business. In addition to promoting opportunities for businesses in Harrogate and Knaresborough, I was trying to get at an underlying point: the wider the contracts and benefits of the restoration project are spread around our country, the broader the support will be for the large sum of money involved in it. I am sure we have all heard people say, "You lot down in Westminster—", as if Parliament has nothing to do with them. Does my right hon. Friend agree that this project has the capacity to either compound or militate against that?
Church Repairs: VAT — House of Commons, 2021-07-22
Topic: Public Lands
Andrew Edmund Armstrong Selous (Conservative, Centre-right): The Church believes strongly that it does not make sense to put value added tax on the repair and restoration of listed buildings. While the Church is grateful that the Government have extended the listed places of worship grant scheme to refund this VAT for another year, we cannot continue with these short-term, sticking-plaster measures. We need to put the maintenance of our listed buildings on a sustainable basis.
Church Repairs: VAT — House of Commons, 2021-07-22
Topic: Housing
Andrew Edmund Armstrong Selous (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right that when regular maintenance is not done, the final costs are much higher. We have had other one-off grants in the past, such as the roof repair fund, which we have been grateful for but which have not provided a long-term solution. Having left the European Union, the Government have gained new tax freedoms and could use them to permanently reduce or, even better, zero-rate value added tax on the repairs and restoration of listed buildings.
Anti-Racism Taskforce Recommendations — House of Commons, 2021-07-22
Topic: Civil Rights
Andrew Edmund Armstrong Selous (Conservative, Centre-right): As the hon. Lady says, in the autumn a new racial justice commission will start work under the chairmanship of Lord Boateng and with Lord Wei as a member. I am delighted to say that we have the highest number of recommendations for stipendiary ordained ministry training in a generation: almost 600, of which 10.9% are from minority ethnic backgrounds—a 2% increase on the previous year. The Church is making gradual but steady progress to make sure that its clergy look like the nation it serves, and the racial justice commission will certainly hold the Church to account on future progress.
Covid-19 Update — House of Commons, 2021-07-22
Topic: Civil Rights
Christopher James Green (Conservative, Centre-right): Can my right hon. Friend give me a better sense of the scope of how the covid ID card may be used in the future? Would it apply to the London marathon? Would it apply to political gatherings: would someone need an ID card to attend a political gathering, whether supportive of or in opposition to the Government? Could he please rule out its use in educational settings such as sixth-form colleges or universities, which should be excluded? The focus now is on young adults, and the ID card should not be a passport to education or a denial of education.
Covid-19 Update — House of Commons, 2021-07-22
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Nadhim Zahawi (Conservative, Centre-right): On the last question, I can certainly give my hon. Friend the assurance that in education or in any public buildings this will not be applicable. As to things such as the transport system or essential retail, that is our very strong commitment. Look, I keep repeating this message, but we know what we need to do. Part of what we are learning from the data here and around the world is about trying to work with industries, such as the nightclub industry and sports bodies, to make sure that we reopen fully as safely as possible and continue to be open. The worst thing for any industry or for any sport is to open and then, sadly, to have to shut down again, as people have seen around the world.
Covid-19 Update — House of Commons, 2021-07-22
Topic: Housing
Nadhim Zahawi (Conservative, Centre-right): I am grateful for the hon. Member’s question. As I said in answer to the previous question, in public buildings such as this place, and of course in essential travel and essential retail, that will not be applicable. That is very clear.
Covid-19 Update — House of Commons, 2021-07-22
Topic: Other
Nadhim Zahawi (Conservative, Centre-right): I am grateful to you, Mr Speaker. I know that this is something that you focus on and that is important to you and your constituents. I will happily do the same and meet them, and bring the relevant officials to ensure that we reassure them as well.