argyrotsipi/train-dataset huggingface dataset:
Parliamentary Works Sponsor Body — House of Commons, 2021-04-21
Topic: Other
Jacob William Rees-Mogg (Conservative, Centre-right): There is not a great deal to say beyond what has already been said, other than to record my thanks to all those who have spoken in the debate for their support. The hon. Member for Midlothian (Owen Thompson) and I look forward to debating the question of Scottish independence at every other possible opportunity, wheedling it in to every debate however far from the subject matter at hand it happens to be I am grateful for the support of the right hon. Member for Walsall South (Valerie Vaz), my shadow, and for the work of the members of the Sponsor Body, my right hon. Friend the Member for East Hampshire (Damian Hinds) and my hon. Friend the Member for Blyth Valley (Ian Levy), who made very important points about how they seek to carry out their role. I think my right hon. Friend’s point about representing the House of Commons to the Sponsor Body rather than the Sponsor Body to the House of Commons is absolutely fundamental I reiterate my thanks to the hon. Member for Edinburgh East (Tommy Sheppard), who served with great distinction. He continues to serve in this House with considerable distinction, and he was also my opposite number for a time, which he did with great charm and elan. I commend the motion to the House Question put and agreed to.
Covid-19: Support for Businesses — House of Commons, 2021-02-09
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Jason McCartney (Conservative, Centre-right): Hundreds of my local hospitality businesses are extremely grateful for the Government support grants they have received. As the success of the vaccine roll-out allows those businesses to start planning reopening, will my right hon. Friend continue to speak with the Chancellor about helping hospitality businesses, including the wedding industry, as they get back on their feet, perhaps by extending help with VAT and business rates?
Covid-19: Support for Businesses — House of Commons, 2021-02-09
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Selaine Rachel Saxby (Conservative, Centre-right): The hospitality supply chain has remained open despite a significant loss of earnings to continue supplying the NHS and schools that have to be open. Here in North Devon, Philip Dennis and Savona delivered to people’s homes and operated pop-up click and collect venues when many vulnerable households struggled for supermarkets slots. However, these companies are not eligible for the same support as the hospitality businesses they normally service; will my right hon. Friend ensure that they have the support they need so they are still trading when our hospitality sector reopens?
Covid-19: Support for Businesses — House of Commons, 2021-02-09
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Kwasi Alfred Addo Kwarteng (Conservative, Centre-right): What I will explain is the fact that, in four weeks in the job, I have seen 200 business leaders. I meet the BROs—the business representative organisations —constantly, and I am in constant dialogue with them to ensure that the Government provide the support. We have provided £280 billion so far, which is beyond any precedent that we have seen. We are in constant conversation not only with our stakeholders but with the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Covid-19: Support for Hospitality — House of Commons, 2021-02-09
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Paul Stuart Scully (Conservative, Centre-right): As part of the Government’s unprecedented package of business support, worth £285 billion, hospitality businesses have access to the coronavirus job support scheme, grants, loans, reduced VAT, a business rates holiday and a moratorium on commercial evictions. We keep those and all support under review.
Covid-19: Support for Luxury Textile Sector — House of Commons, 2021-02-09
Topic: Mixed Topics
Amanda Jane Solloway (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend will be aware of the great support that the Government have already given. The Government continue to offer unprecedented support through packages for businesses worth more than £280 billion. That includes loan schemes, grant funding, tax deferrals, the self-employment income scheme and, of course, the coronavirus job retention scheme. All have been designed to be accessible to businesses in most sectors and across the UK.
Covid-19: Support for Luxury Textile Sector — House of Commons, 2021-02-09
Topic: Mixed Topics
Amanda Jane Solloway (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend has been a huge champion for Scottish textiles, and we are working hard to de-escalate the dispute and get punitive tariffs removed. Either I or the Secretary of State would be very happy to meet him and representatives from the textile sector in his constituency. I know that the Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, my hon. Friend the Member for Sutton and Cheam (Paul Scully)—the Minister for small business—continues to engage with stakeholders from across the retail and consumer goods sector.
Net Zero by 2050 — House of Commons, 2021-02-09
Topic: Mixed Topics
Henry Edward Millar Smith (Conservative, Centre-right): A year ago, the UK airline industry committed to net zero carbon by 2050. What support and assistance has the Department been providing to this important sector, which is suffering loss at the moment, so that it can contribute in the future?
Old Mine Workings: Safety — House of Commons, 2021-02-09
Topic: Public Lands
Anne-Marie Belinda Trevelyan (Conservative, Centre-right): First, I wish to offer my sympathies to all the families affected in the Skewen floods. My officials have been updated by the Coal Authority on the flooding in Skewen on a regular basis and on the work that it and local partners are doing to support the community, remediate the site and allow people to return safely to their homes. I will be meeting people from the Coal Authority shortly to discuss its work and the investments it is making to reduce the risk of this ever happening again.
Old Mine Workings: Safety — House of Commons, 2021-02-09
Topic: Public Lands
Anne-Marie Belinda Trevelyan (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Gentleman is a wonderful advocate for his constituents, and I hope very much to be able to visit Skewen with him and talk personally to those affected. The Coal Authority does not have liability for flooding; flooding, whether from a river, stream or groundwater, is mainly dealt with through insurance, and I know that the Welsh Government emergency grant equivalent of the Bellwin scheme for those affected by flooding in England provides a higher sum. So I look forward to working with him and to hearing directly from his constituents as soon as we can arrange this.
Dismiss and Re-engage Tactics — House of Commons, 2021-02-09
Topic: Mixed Topics
Amanda Jane Solloway (Conservative, Centre-right): Having worked for a retailer—Sainsbury’s—for 13 years, I would like to acknowledge the hard work that we know all the people in retail do. However, I reiterate that the Department engaged ACAS to hold discussions in order to generate valuable evidence on the use of fire and rehire.
Automotive Sector: Fiscal Support — House of Commons, 2021-02-09
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Kwasi Alfred Addo Kwarteng (Conservative, Centre-right): Since becoming Secretary of State, I have met a number of representatives of our highly successful automotive sector to discuss future opportunities for the UK and to emphasise our Government’s commitment to the continued growth of the sector.
Automotive Sector: Fiscal Support — House of Commons, 2021-02-09
Topic: Mixed Topics
Kwasi Alfred Addo Kwarteng (Conservative, Centre-right): I recognise the importance of the Ellesmere Port plant locally and fully appreciate the work that the hon. Gentleman has done to keep it open. I want to see its future secured. We are committed to ensuring that the UK continues to be one of the best global locations for automotive manufacturing. I am happy to meet the hon. Gentleman, should he wish, and I have met representatives from Vauxhall as well.
Support for Victims of Domestic Abuse — House of Commons, 2021-02-09
Topic: Mixed Topics
Paul Stuart Scully (Conservative, Centre-right): Our recent report on workplace support is clear that employers’ policies can play a significant role in helping victims of domestic abuse. We will work with employers to support that role and encourage good practice, which includes employers signing up to the Employers’ Initiative on Domestic Abuse and managers downloading the Bright Sky app by Hestia.
Support for Victims of Domestic Abuse — House of Commons, 2021-02-09
Topic: Mixed Topics
Paul Stuart Scully (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend has been a huge champion of tackling abuse, both here in this country and internationally. As set out in our recent report on workplace support, we will work across Government to raise awareness with businesses and victims’ representatives. From a business point of view, it tackles the £1.9 billion productivity stretch, and employers have a duty of care, just as with bullying, stress and mental health. Clearly, wider awareness can save lives.
Support for Victims of Domestic Abuse — House of Commons, 2021-02-09
Topic: Mixed Topics
Imran Nasir Ahmad Khan (Conservative, Centre-right): Several organisations in Wakefield, including Penny Appeal, have joined the Employers’ Initiative on Domestic Abuse, which empowers businesses to take positive action for their employees affected by domestic abuse. This is a crucial step in providing support at a time when the levels of domestic abuse have sadly risen. Will my hon. Friend kindly outline what additional steps his Department is taking to help businesses supporting victims of domestic abuse?
Covid-19: Safety of Meter Readers — House of Commons, 2021-02-09
Topic: Mixed Topics
Anne-Marie Belinda Trevelyan (Conservative, Centre-right): There was an extensive series of engagements to support the drafting process for the safer working guidance, with more than 1,000 users responding. The safer working guidance has had 3.3 million views, and the evidence shows that it is working well and supporting those who are doing the incredibly important work of keeping utility services going. My door is always open, and I would be very happy to discuss any concerns with the hon. Gentleman and his constituents.
Renewable Energy — House of Commons, 2021-02-09
Topic: Mixed Topics
Anne-Marie Belinda Trevelyan (Conservative, Centre-right): We have ambitious targets for future decarbonisation and the systems that will go with it. We will be publishing an industrial decarbonisation strategy in the very near future, which will help to support businesses as we look at all the issues that the hon. Gentleman raises.
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2021-02-09
Topic: Mixed Topics
Kwasi Alfred Addo Kwarteng (Conservative, Centre-right): In my first four weeks as Secretary of State, I have met with more than 100 businesses —virtually, of course—up and down the country. I have been hugely impressed by the positivity, determination and sheer grit that our businesses have shown in spite of the immense challenges they are facing. I am pleased that we can now offer lateral flow testing to businesses with 50 or more employees, providing new support to small and medium-sized enterprises across the UK. As we have seen with the vaccine roll-out, it is thanks to our brilliant scientists and our brilliant science base that more than 12 million people have now received their first dose of a covid vaccine.
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2021-02-09
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Mohammad Saqib Bhatti (Conservative, Centre-right): In recent years, the Greater Birmingham and Solihull area has seen the setting up of the highest number of start-ups in the country outside London. Will my right hon. Friend set out his plans to support start-ups in my constituency of Meriden, so that they can continue to set up, thrive and survive after covid?
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2021-02-09
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Kwasi Alfred Addo Kwarteng (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend is utterly committed to supporting growth and entrepreneurship in his area. I am fully aware that he was a director of business support for four years for the Greater Birmingham and Solihull local enterprise partnership. He will know that our Government continue to back growth and recovery across the UK. I think, in his own constituency of Meriden, we have done this through £90.9 million of covid loan scheme support.
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2021-02-09
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Darren George Henry (Conservative, Centre-right): With local authorities such as that in Broxtowe responsible for distributing grants to struggling businesses, will my hon. Friend tell me what flexibility can be provided to allow grants underspent in one area of business support to be used for support in other areas?
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2021-02-09
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Kwasi Alfred Addo Kwarteng (Conservative, Centre-right): Local authorities, as my hon. Friend knows, receive funding to support closed businesses through grants of up to £3,000 for each four-week period of closure. In addition, closed businesses can receive up to an extra £9,000 as a one-off payment for the current period of national lockdown. Local authorities, as I am sure he is aware, are also in receipt of discretionary funding, sharing £1.6 billion of the additional restrictions grant.
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2021-02-09
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Andrea Jacqueline Leadsom (Conservative, Centre-right): May I start by congratulating my right hon. Friend on his new job? I very much enjoyed working with him in what is now his Department, and I wish him well. I have constituents who run a very successful hotel business. They have appreciated all the support given to them by the Government, but they recognise that they are still using every last penny of their reserves to keep their golf course maintained, keep the swimming pool clean and keep the place secure, and they have no income. So can my right hon. Friend tell me, when they ask their bank, as they have, to provide them with rolled-over quarterly interest and the bank says, "We’ll do it, but we need to put you under forbearance", is that a regulatory requirement or is it the bank making it even more difficult for them to recover once lockdown ends?
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2021-02-09
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Kwasi Alfred Addo Kwarteng (Conservative, Centre-right): I am very pleased to be responding to my right hon. Friend. I very much enjoyed working with her in the Department and I am pleased that she is taking such an interest in our activities. In answer to her question, I would suggest that this is about policy, not regulation. The Government expect lenders to be constructive in their dealings with businesses in difficulty. I am glad to hear that in this instance her constituents are getting the support that they need from the bank, but bank regulations on forbearance are a matter for the independent Financial Conduct Authority.
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2021-02-09
Topic: Other
Kwasi Alfred Addo Kwarteng (Conservative, Centre-right): As the right hon. Gentleman well knows, my door is always open, and I am very happy to meet him to discuss this issue. I recall that when my right hon. Friend the Member for Tunbridge Wells (Greg Clark) was in my place, it was a very delicate situation, but I am happy to discuss with the right hon. Gentleman ideas on how we can ameliorate it.
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2021-02-09
Topic: Housing
Kevin Paul Hollinrake (Conservative, Centre-right): I draw the House’s attention to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. In my parliamentary work I have seen a number of examples of council landlords being unreasonable with tenants who are facing eviction or, potentially, insolvency when the right of forfeiture is restored on 31 March. Will my right hon. Friend set out his plans for this, but also send a message to local authorities that they should set a good example when it comes to helping businesses through this crisis?
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2021-02-09
Topic: Housing
Paul Stuart Scully (Conservative, Centre-right): I have been continuing to have conversations with landlords and tenants to encourage constructive conversations to see what happens after the moratorium. Those tenants who can pay should pay, while landlords should show forbearance for the medium to long term, and that includes local authorities. In government, whether central or local, we should be setting that example.
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2021-02-09
Topic: Mixed Topics
Kwasi Alfred Addo Kwarteng (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Lady is absolutely right: we have to look after the interests of our whisky exporters. It is a key interest. I have spoken to Karen Betts I think twice in my first month precisely on that issue, and I am very hopeful that we can get it resolved.
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2021-02-09
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Caroline Ansell (Conservative, Centre-right): The Government have provided life support to the hospitality sector, but my hoteliers are flagging that we are moving into a potential perfect storm of deferred payments coming into focus and the support scheme set to close. The weekend’s announcement on bounce-back loans has been met with huge relief in my constituency for the 1,800 businesses that are in that place. I ask the Minister to look also at extending the 5% VAT rate, furlough and the business rates holiday, so that the hospitality sector in my constituency of Eastbourne, and across the country, can come back all the stronger.
Covid-19 Update — House of Commons, 2021-02-09
Topic: Immigration
Matthew John David Hancock (Conservative, Centre-right): We have had significant measures at the border throughout. The new, stronger measures are necessary because of the arrival around the world of new variants of concern at the same time as the vaccine roll-out is progressing successfully. We do not want the very successful vaccine roll-out to be undermined, so it is reasonable to take a precautionary approach to international travel now, while we assess the effectiveness of the vaccines. We are clear that they have some effectiveness; the question is to what degree. That is being tested right now.
Covid-19 Update — House of Commons, 2021-02-09
Topic: Immigration
Neil John O'Brien (Conservative, Centre-right): Given the incredible success of the UK vaccination programme, it would be terrible to put at risk our opening up by importing new variants like those seen in Brazil. Will my right hon. Friend stand ready to further tighten the measures at the border and the enforcement of quarantine, and does he agree that if we want to see rapid opening up, as we all do, we should be supporting strong measures at the border?
Covid-19 Update — House of Commons, 2021-02-09
Topic: Mixed Topics
Matthew John David Hancock (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend is right, first, that we must keep the red list under review; and secondly, crucially, that strong protections at the border are part of defending and safely allowing the domestic opening up. For those of us who want to see that domestic opening up, ensuring that we have protection from variants that might arise from overseas is an important part, until we can get to a position where we can be confident in vaccine efficacy against all variants, not just against the current variants that are here in large numbers in the UK.
Covid-19 Update — House of Commons, 2021-02-09
Topic: Immigration
Matthew John David Hancock (Conservative, Centre-right): The Home Secretary is looking into this individual case. The measures that we announced today further strengthen the enforcement to make sure that the rules that are currently in place are enforced more strongly, and indeed that we have brought in a new system of rules to strengthen the safeguards at our border yet further.
Covid-19 Update — House of Commons, 2021-02-09
Topic: Immigration
David Timothy Simmonds (Conservative, Centre-right): I commend my right hon. Friend’s decision to fund the local authorities of Harrow and Hillingdon, which serve my constituency, to reach out to people who may be reluctant to come forward and get their vaccine. In respect of those who are in our country with an uncertain immigration status, but for whom vaccination is vital for both humanitarian and medical reasons, will he consider a similar approach and fund local authorities, which know their communities best, to reach out to those people, to ensure that they are also part of this great British success story?
Covid-19 Update — House of Commons, 2021-02-09
Topic: Immigration
Matthew John David Hancock (Conservative, Centre-right): A new arrival to the UK who has been in a red-list country in the past 10 days and who is not a resident of the United Kingdom or Ireland or a UK citizen will be denied entry and held in hotel quarantine until they can return to the country from which they arrived.
Covid-19 Update — House of Commons, 2021-02-09
Topic: Other
Eleanor Fulton Laing (Conservative, Centre-right): I am endeavouring to ensure that everyone on the list gets a chance to ask a question, but they will not do so if we do not speed up a bit, because we have a lot more business to come—[Interruption.] No, I do not criticise the Secretary of State. If he is asked complicated questions, he has to give complicated answers, so let us have quick and simple questions, then we can have quick and simple answers.
Covid-19 Update — House of Commons, 2021-02-09
Topic: Immigration
Matthew John David Hancock (Conservative, Centre-right): I am very grateful for my right hon. Friend’s support in the way that he puts it. I have been talking to my Australian counterparts about the approach that they take, not least because their hotel quarantine has now been in place for some time. The central point that he makes is that once we get cases down through both the measures now, and then the vaccine to keep them down, a tough borders policy can help to keep us free domestically. That is a very important part of this consideration.
Covid-19 Update — House of Commons, 2021-02-09
Topic: Immigration
Matthew John David Hancock (Conservative, Centre-right): The rigour and the security of both home quarantine and hotel quarantine are important. It is a matter of the degree of risk, and that is why we have attempted to strike the balance that we have. However, what is not in balance is the need for rigorous quarantine both for those coming from red-list countries and those coming from all other countries who quarantine at home. It is important that this takes place, whether it is at home or in a hotel, and hence the stronger enforcement measures.
Covid-19 Update — House of Commons, 2021-02-09
Topic: Mixed Topics
Joy Inboden Morrissey (Conservative, Centre-right): I know that my right hon. Friend is committed to securing our borders. Will he therefore consider commissioning and funding airlines and airports directly to run these new Department of Health and Social Care passenger and border restrictions? Airlines and airports such as BA and Heathrow have the experience, market innovation and incentive to deliver safe travel for Britain. Will my right hon. Friend meet me and representatives from the airline industry so that together we can deliver secure borders but a global Britain?
Covid-19 Update — House of Commons, 2021-02-09
Topic: Other
Eleanor Fulton Laing (Conservative, Centre-right): Order. Before I call the Secretary of State to answer the question, I give notice that we ought to be stopping this statement now, but I have seven more people who wish to get in. Can you please just cut your bits of paper in half and ask a question? It is not fair to everybody else, and the people who are sitting at home are not getting the atmosphere. We have got to do this quickly. We do not need speeches, just questions. If people take more than 20 seconds, I will cut them off.