argyrotsipi/train-dataset huggingface dataset:
EU Exit Negotiations — House of Commons, 2017-12-05
Topic: International Affairs
Benjamin Peter James Bradshaw (Labour, Centre-left): If the Secretary of State is serious about wanting a solution in the national interest that commands majority support in Northern Ireland, the rest of the United Kingdom and this House—I am delighted to say that that would seem to include my own Front Benchers—why does he not bring to this House a motion, on a free vote, on staying in the customs union and the single market?
EU Exit Negotiations — House of Commons, 2017-12-05
Topic: Government Operations
Christopher Michael Leslie (Labour, Centre-left): Perhaps the Secretary of State could accept the constructive offer made by many hon. Members on both sides of the House. The right hon. Member for Broxtowe (Anna Soubry) and the hon. Member for Eddisbury (Antoinette Sandbach), as well as Opposition Members, have said that there is a majority in favour of the regulatory alignment that the Prime Minister proposed for Northern Ireland, the Republic and the rest of the United Kingdom. With a few exceptions, the Secretary of State would get a lot of votes from Opposition Members if he put that question. Why does he not just do so?
EU Exit Negotiations — House of Commons, 2017-12-05
Topic: International Affairs
Patrick Bosco McFadden (Labour, Centre-left): The Prime Minister’s humiliation yesterday, when she was forced to disagree with herself, shows that this is less a negotiation and more a set of decisions, and those decisions are being framed by the contradictory red lines that the Government have thrown out, without regard to the consequences, on a hard border, the single market and the customs union. The Secretary of State’s colleague Ruth Davidson said this morning: "If regulatory alignment in a number of specific areas is the requirement for a frictionless border, then the Prime Minister should conclude this must be on a UK-wide basis." She is right, is she not?
EU Exit Negotiations — House of Commons, 2017-12-05
Topic: International Affairs
Angela Eagle (Labour, Centre-left): Yesterday, our Prime Minister was humiliated by having the rug pulled from under her by the DUP. Was she not naive even to attempt to do a deal of the sort she tried to do, knowing that the DUP would inevitably veto it? With the negotiations in such fantastic hands, will the Secretary of State now admit that the only way to move forward without a hard border in Northern Ireland, to protect the jobs of my constituents, is for us to stay in the customs union and the single market?
EU Exit Negotiations — House of Commons, 2017-12-05
Topic: International Affairs
Chuka Harrison Umunna (Labour, Centre-left): The Secretary of State talks about the will of the people, but of course the Government put leaving the customs union and the single market to the electorate at the general election and lost their majority. Can I ask him a very specific question? Clearly, there is no consensus on having an arrangement whereby only Northern Ireland is part of the single market and the customs union, and no business or Government I have spoken to think that technology is the answer. He has said that he does not think that keeping the UK overall in the customs union and the single market is the answer, so what does he believe is?
EU Exit Negotiations — House of Commons, 2017-12-05
Topic: International Affairs
Lucy Maria Powell (Labour, Centre-left): I am slightly confused now. Yesterday, the Government seemed to accept the principle that the only way to achieve no border or a soft border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland was through regulatory alignment. Does that principle still stand today? Do the Government accept that that is the only way to deliver the frictionless border?
EU Exit Negotiations — House of Commons, 2017-12-05
Topic: International Affairs
Albert Owen (Labour, Centre-left): Yesterday, for the first time, the Secretary of State realised that the importance of the Irish border issue extends beyond the island of Ireland. To unite the United Kingdom, will he meet the Scottish and Welsh First Ministers to discuss regulatory alignment because it impacts on everyone? If he wants to unite the United Kingdom, he must do better.
EU Exit Negotiations — House of Commons, 2017-12-05
Topic: International Affairs
Karin Marguerite Smyth (Labour, Centre-left): The Irish issue has never been about wandering cows or static cameras. It is about what is written behind me: we have "more in common". The Irish are our closest neighbours and that is the basis of the Good Friday agreement, which I am disappointed that the Secretary of State did not mention in his opening remarks. I repeat the same question that I have asked the Secretary of State, the Prime Minister and other Ministers six times since January. When will the Prime Minister show courtesy to the people of Northern Ireland and put a date in her diary at least to visit? If she had been there and listened and talked to people, she might not have ended up in the farce that was yesterday.
EU Exit Negotiations — House of Commons, 2017-12-05
Topic: Foreign Trade
Stephen Creswell Timms (Labour, Centre-left): The customs union was not on the ballot paper in the referendum. The Prime Minister was right yesterday to be willing to sign up to regulatory alignment between Northern Ireland and the EU. From the Secretary of State’s answers today, I think he is suggesting that regulatory alignment should apply to the whole UK. Will he confirm that that is the point he is making, and will he explain how he sees that being delivered?
EU Exit Negotiations — House of Commons, 2017-12-05
Topic: Foreign Trade
Helen Catherine Goodman (Labour, Centre-left): Of course the British people voted to leave the European Union, but the common market is extremely popular with the public. We joined the customs union in 1973. Not only would staying in it help to resolve the Irish issues, it would boost British exporters across the country.
EU Exit Negotiations — House of Commons, 2017-12-05
Topic: International Affairs
Wesley Paul William Streeting (Labour, Centre-left): The Secretary of State says a vote to leave was a vote to leave the single market and the customs union, but that is not what leavers said. He says that the Conservative manifesto committed to pulling us out of both, but that is not what the majority of the public voted for. Is it not time to accept that he will have a majority in this House for a Brexit based on membership of the single market and the customs union, but that we will never give him a majority for a destructive hard Brexit?
EU Exit Negotiations — House of Commons, 2017-12-05
Topic: International Affairs
Adrian Edward Bailey (Labour, Centre-left): Yesterday’s events were a shambles that must undermine our credibility in our negotiations with the EU. However, if there are two positives, they are, first, the Government’s belated recognition of the importance of regulatory alignment with Europe in going forward; and secondly, the display of unity, with all parts of the United Kingdom demanding that what is good for one is good for all. Will the Secretary of State recognise the logic of that, change his position and negotiate on the basis of access to the single market and the customs union?
EU Exit Negotiations — House of Commons, 2017-12-05
Topic: International Affairs
Clive Stanley Efford (Labour, Centre-left): Article 50 was designed to be harsh on the country that triggered it. Its author, Mr Giuliano Amato, a former Italian Prime Minister, described it as a "safety valve that was there" but should never be used. Are we not setting an unrealistic timescale and is it not time for us to seek to delay the implementation of leaving the European Union, so we can resolve issues around the customs union and the single market?
EU Exit Negotiations — House of Commons, 2017-12-05
Topic: International Affairs
Alexander David Sobel (Labour, Centre-left): As Arlene Foster now seems to be running the rule over the Government’s EU exit negotiations, are we to expect that a Member from the DUP Bench will join the Secretary of State’s team in a confidence and supply arrangement?
EU Exit Negotiations — House of Commons, 2017-12-05
Topic: International Affairs
Ruth Margaret Cadbury (Labour, Centre-left): The Secretary of State says he is serious about delivering the best for the United Kingdom and that he thinks Brexit is a cinch. The EU Commissioners estimate that there are currently 142 areas of north-south co-operation that depend on EU law. Is the plan for Northern Ireland to remain aligned in each of those 142 areas, or more widely?
EU Exit Negotiations — House of Commons, 2017-12-05
Topic: Foreign Trade
Christopher Paul Farrelly (Labour, Centre-left): Presuming that the Government do finally make progress at some stage and we leave the single market, will the Secretary of State outline to the House what sort of agreement he expects to reach on UK access to the European market for services?
Report on Recent Terrorist Attacks — House of Commons, 2017-12-05
Topic: Law and Crime
Yvette Cooper (Labour, Centre-left): I join the Home Secretary in condemning the terrorists who commit these vile attacks, and in extending our thoughts to the families affected. I also pay tribute to the work of MI5 and the police. They have very difficult judgments to make, and they do that with great integrity and expertise. I welcome their willingness to reflect on where there might have been an operational response that needed to change or to be improved, and we have to enable them to do that. I have already raised with the Home Secretary my concern about whether Salman Abedi should have been on watch lists. Can she tell me now, in the light of this report, what action she will take to ensure better co-operation between MI5 and the Border Force in all cases where suspects should be on watch lists?
Report on Recent Terrorist Attacks — House of Commons, 2017-12-05
Topic: Law and Crime
David George Hanson (Labour, Centre-left): The Home Secretary has rightly said that there has been an increase in attacks by right-wing extremists over the past 12 months. She said in her statement that she plans a new approach to domestic extremism, and I am sure that the Intelligence and Security Committee, on which I also sit, will look at that. Will she give us an indication today of how that new approach will manifest itself?
Report on Recent Terrorist Attacks — House of Commons, 2017-12-05
Topic: Law and Crime
Anthony Joseph Lloyd (Labour, Centre-left): What more can we insist that the social media providers do, and what more do we have to do internationally? If we get this partnership right, it will help greatly in defeating the terrorists. If we do not get it right, frankly, the social media providers will be negligent in their responsibilities and will ultimately be responsible for terrorist attacks and potential deaths.
Report on Recent Terrorist Attacks — House of Commons, 2017-12-05
Topic: Law and Crime
John Eugene Joseph Dromey (Labour, Centre-left): The Home Secretary and shadow Home Secretary are right that this House stands firmly in opposition to the terrorism that scarred Manchester and London earlier this year. In a welcome move, the Home Secretary has made resources available for the Greater Manchester Police to deal with the attack on Manchester Arena; will she now do the same for the Metropolitan police, because they might otherwise face a bill of up to £32 million, and that will mean fewer police officers going forward?
Report on Recent Terrorist Attacks — House of Commons, 2017-12-05
Topic: Law and Crime
Stephen John Doughty (Labour, Centre-left): May I add my tribute to that of the Home Secretary, not least given the experiences in my constituency with Islamist and far-right extremism? As the Chair of the Home Affairs Committee, my right hon. Friend the Member for Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford (Yvette Cooper), said, concerns have been raised about individuals travelling in and out in the cases of both Salman Abedi and one of the alleged London Bridge attackers, who was apparently detained by the Italian authorities in Bologna, and that was reported to the UK. Will the Home Secretary say a little more about her plans to strengthen border checks and information sharing, particularly on exit, as well as on entry?
Report on Recent Terrorist Attacks — House of Commons, 2017-12-05
Topic: Law and Crime
Lucy Maria Powell (Labour, Centre-left): I echo the tributes paid to the police and security services and the comprehensive report brought before the House today. I agree with the Home Secretary that data sharing is key. When information about Salman Abedi was flagged in early 2017, that was not shared with local police services. If it had been flagged with those on the ground, who perhaps had the fuller view of what was going on in the community, further action could perhaps have been taken On resources, I echo what has been said: the frontline of counter-terrorism is community police, and also youth services, community groups, charities and others who operate on the frontline. We need a holistic view of that On the costs incurred, in Greater Manchester in particular, I thank the Home Secretary for making sure that the policing budget will be fully reimbursed, and thank her colleague, the hon. Member for South Ribble (Seema Kennedy), for working with me to make sure that was the case. Can we make sure that we never have to ask again, and that it will from now on just be something that is done automatically?
Report on Recent Terrorist Attacks — House of Commons, 2017-12-05
Topic: Law and Crime
Heidi Alexander (Labour, Centre-left): The Home Secretary talked about the process that authorities follow when new intelligence becomes available about closed subjects of interest. Will she say what, if any, changes have been made to that process over the past six months?
Report on Recent Terrorist Attacks — House of Commons, 2017-12-05
Topic: Law and Crime
John Woodcock (Labour, Centre-left): With British combatants already arriving back on these shores after having fought for Daesh in Iraq and Syria, will the Home Secretary fast-track the new terrorism Bill? Will she consider including a reversal of this Government’s decision to permanently lower the limit on pre-charge detention to 14 days? The whole House will agree with the Government’s position that such people should face trial, but is there not a significant danger that many will be allowed to roam free in their communities while the Government and law enforcement agencies build a case against them?
Report on Recent Terrorist Attacks — House of Commons, 2017-12-05
Topic: Law and Crime
Clive Stanley Efford (Labour, Centre-left): The Home Secretary has to accept that £1 billion-worth of cuts to the Metropolitan police has had an impact on counter-terrorism. She said that she intends to increase funding for counter-terrorism, but will she guarantee that that will not come at the expense of essential community policing?
Universal Credit Project Assessment Reviews — House of Commons, 2017-12-05
Topic: Social Welfare
Deborah Angela Elspeth Marie Abrahams (Labour, Centre-left): I beg to move, That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, That she will be graciously pleased to give directions that the five project assessment reviews, carried out into universal credit between 2012 and 2015 by the Government’s Major Projects Authority now known as the Infrastructure and Projects Authority, and any subsequent project assessment reviews carried out into universal credit by the Infrastructure and Projects Authority between 1 January 2016 and 30 November 2017 that have been provided to Her Majesty’s Ministers at the Department for Work and Pensions, be provided by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to the Work and Pensions Committee The purpose of today’s debate on universal credit, the fourth in nearly eight weeks, is to seek the release of the project assessment review reports on universal credit to enable this House to scrutinise the Government’s flagship social security programme.
Universal Credit Project Assessment Reviews — House of Commons, 2017-12-05
Topic: Social Welfare
Deborah Angela Elspeth Marie Abrahams (Labour, Centre-left): As some of my colleagues are saying, we are asking for the documents now. We are pleased the Government finally acknowledged that their universal credit programme is not fit for purpose, and now we need to understand the extent to which it is not fit for purpose through the publication of these reports I wish to start by giving some context to today’s debate and then set out why it is so important that we have access to these project assessment reviews. For many months now, Labour has been calling on the Government to pause and fix universal credit. This is a direct response to the mounting evidence that the full service programme is driving hardship in the areas where it has been rolled out. I am sure hon. Members from across the House will now be aware of the figures, but the realities of the misery being caused by this programme bear repeating: half of those in rent arrears under UC report that their arrears started after they made their claim; 79% of those in debt are recognised as having priority debts by Citizens Advice, putting them at higher risk of bailiffs and evictions; and two in five have no money to pay creditors at the end of the month.
Universal Credit Project Assessment Reviews — House of Commons, 2017-12-05
Topic: Government Operations
Deborah Angela Elspeth Marie Abrahams (Labour, Centre-left): Absolutely. My hon. Friend makes such as a good point. This is what we have been calling for all along. We need to have an in-depth understanding of what the real issues are. We have outlined a number of those, but it is clear that the programme contains deep flaws. If we are serious about resolving these problems—I believe the Secretary of State is genuine in his offer to do so—we must understand exactly what the extent of the problems are.
Universal Credit Project Assessment Reviews — House of Commons, 2017-12-05
Topic: Government Operations
Deborah Angela Elspeth Marie Abrahams (Labour, Centre-left): I do not think that gets away from the ultimate ruling, which was that these things should be published. I understand exactly what the hon. and learned Lady is saying, but at the end of the day the ICO ruled that these PAR reports must be published.
Universal Credit Project Assessment Reviews — House of Commons, 2017-12-05
Topic: Social Welfare
Deborah Angela Elspeth Marie Abrahams (Labour, Centre-left): The hon. Gentleman makes a fair point. Again, we need to know the extent of the issues. I am sure the information system is one of those concerns. The Information Commissioner described the PARs as giving "a much greater insight than any information already available about the Universal Credit Programme."
Universal Credit Project Assessment Reviews — House of Commons, 2017-12-05
Topic: Labor
Deborah Angela Elspeth Marie Abrahams (Labour, Centre-left): I am going to finish this point. The ICO describes the programme as having "been subject to a number of high-profile failings" In its judgment, the ICO weighed the public interest carefully and determined that the balance supports disclosure of these five reports, not least because UC could affect up to 11 million people, by the estimation of the ICO, with nearly 7 million relying on the programme once it is fully rolled out. The commissioner noted that the Department for Work and Pensions had not complied with the law in its handling of the original request for information and gave it 35 days to release this information into the public domain, with a failure to comply resulting in a written certification to the High Court. So we cannot underestimate the importance of this ruling.
Universal Credit Project Assessment Reviews — House of Commons, 2017-12-05
Topic: Social Welfare
Deborah Angela Elspeth Marie Abrahams (Labour, Centre-left): My right hon. Friend hits the nail on the head. We must have greater openness and transparency about this and other Government schemes. For universal credit especially, the effect it is having on people now means that we must do the right thing. As I said, the ruling must be complied with.
Universal Credit Project Assessment Reviews — House of Commons, 2017-12-05
Topic: Labor
Deborah Angela Elspeth Marie Abrahams (Labour, Centre-left): I am just going to carry on for a moment, if that is all right This is the second time in two years that I have brought to the House’s attention Information Commissioner rulings concerning the DWP that the Government have tried to thwart. The first time was when the Government refused to publish data on the number of people who had died after being found fit for work. Those data were shocking and vindicated those who had pushed for their release for several years. They gave cold comfort for the families and friends of those who had died and to those who were still going through the assessment process I appreciate that neither universal credit nor the project assessment review reports were initiated under the tenure of the current Secretary of State, but I do urge him to rethink and publish the reports forthwith. Taxpayers’ money must not be used to hide the Government’s embarrassment.
Universal Credit Project Assessment Reviews — House of Commons, 2017-12-05
Topic: Social Welfare
Ruth Stephanie Nicole George (Labour, Centre-left): When the only impact assessment of universal credit we have seen was published five years ago this month, it committed to a post-implementation review within five years and said: "A comprehensive evaluation programme is being developed for Universal Credit" to inform and evaluate long-term policy. Are we not now trying to get some crumbs of the evidence the Government committed to providing five years ago and should have provided?
Universal Credit Project Assessment Reviews — House of Commons, 2017-12-05
Topic: Social Welfare
Deborah Angela Elspeth Marie Abrahams (Labour, Centre-left): I thoroughly agree with the hon. Gentleman that our seeking the publication of these reports does not detract from the valuable work that jobcentre staff are doing under difficult circumstances The Information Commissioner’s Office found that "the withheld information would provide valuable insight into the management of the UCP"— universal credit programme— "and allow for greater understanding of what the UCP did to identify and tackle the issues that it encountered." It found that the reports we are discussing "provide a distinct insight into the governance of the UCP and allow for even greater transparency." That is in addition to the findings in National Audit Office, Select Committee and Office for Budget Responsibility reports The Government’s Budget announcements were a welcome step in the right direction, but not nearly enough. They still need to pause the roll-out of universal credit, not just slow it down, and they need to release the project assessment reviews so that we can fix the multitude of issues that still exist. The reports will help us to understand what needs fixing and how.
Universal Credit Project Assessment Reviews — House of Commons, 2017-12-05
Topic: Social Welfare
Deborah Angela Elspeth Marie Abrahams (Labour, Centre-left): I am sorry, but I am going to continue If the Government are so sure that a slow-down will suffice, that they can continue to ignore work incentives, that no changes are necessary before Christmas and that a five-week wait is sufficient, why will they not publish their own workings, as the Information Commissioner has instructed? It is a clear matter of public interest that the Government abide by the ruling of the Information Commissioner and publish these five assessment reviews, and any others in the subsequent period. That will allow the House the proper scrutiny it deserves and shine a light on the implementation failures of the universal credit programme, which have caused so much hardship for so many. I call on the Government to abide by that ruling now.