argyrotsipi/train-dataset huggingface dataset:
Economic Outlook and Furlough Scheme Changes — House of Commons, 2020-06-16
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Alexander Jesse Norman (Conservative, Centre-right): We are of course looking closely at other countries to see if they are doing things from which we can learn and benefit. I would have some doubts about a scheme that went on as long as that precisely because we need to return businesses and people working in them to normality as swiftly and safely as we possibly can. This might have the effect of counteracting that, but the point is well made and we will continue to review these alternative arrangements.
Economic Outlook and Furlough Scheme Changes — House of Commons, 2020-06-16
Topic: Mixed Topics
Selaine Rachel Saxby (Conservative, Centre-right): Tourism businesses have been under immense pressure. In particular, smaller hospitality businesses, as in my constituency, need certainty to be able to survive. While I welcome the introduction of part-time furlough for workers, for these businesses to reopen on 4 July, some staff must be taken off furlough now. With part-time furloughing not starting until July, will my right hon. Friend confirm whether there is to be a phased unlocking of the industry, or can part-time furlough commence sooner?
Global Britain — House of Commons, 2020-06-16
Topic: Mixed Topics
Tobias Martin Ellwood (Conservative, Centre-right): I have long called for Britain to have a stronger, more authoritarian voice on the international stage as a force for good, but I have also called for a grand strategy, linking not only what the Foreign Office does and DFID does, but also Trade and Defence, to create a grand strategy and international outlook. I have also called for better strategic oversight of DFID’s spending, moving away from the archaic ODA laws, which are now out of date I am concerned about the timing of this, because there is an enduring emergency that must be the Government’s priority, and the Prime Minister himself mentioned the defence, security and foreign policy review, which was designed to understand what our Whitehall architecture should be, in understanding what our vision, our outlook, our place in the world should be and aspire to be. Surely, that should come first Can the Prime Minister also confirm that, with GDP is expected to fall, and the 2% of GDP target for defence now going to be obsolete, there will be no real-terms cuts in the defence budget?
Global Britain — House of Commons, 2020-06-16
Topic: Other
Eleanor Fulton Laing (Conservative, Centre-right): Order. Hon. Members must not shout at the Prime Minister. We are here to ask questions, not make long preambles to questions. If we do not have shorter questions, I am afraid that not everyone will get the chance to ask their question. And if the questions are shorter, I know the Prime Minister will thus be able to give shorter answers.
Global Britain — House of Commons, 2020-06-16
Topic: Mixed Topics
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): That is indeed what we are doing. I have spoken to the head of Rolls-Royce and other companies about exactly the vision for aerospace that the hon. Lady describes. There is a big opportunity for this country to lead the world in low-carbon aerospace technologies and that is what this Government are going to do.
Global Britain — House of Commons, 2020-06-16
Topic: Mixed Topics
Laurence Anthony Robertson (Conservative, Centre-right): Does the Prime Minister agree with me that it is in Britain’s interests to have a poverty reduction programme across the world? Will he guarantee, after this change, that the Government will still continue to concentrate on education and health, particularly the education of girls, across the world and that—not only for the benefit of Britain, but for humanitarian purposes—we carry on the poverty reduction programmes?
Global Britain — House of Commons, 2020-06-16
Topic: Other
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): I am grateful for my right hon. Friend’s support. I know that he wrestled with the issue when he was doing the job that I once did as well. I think that he has come to the right conclusion. As for his suggestion on how we will work it in government, I listened carefully to what he had to say.
Global Britain — House of Commons, 2020-06-16
Topic: Mixed Topics
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): Thank you. That is the ambassador. That is how it works. It is very important that everybody understands that. I repeat what I said to my friend, the right hon. Member for Ross, Skye and Lochaber (Ian Blackford), which is that we will ensure that we keep that investment in East Kilbride and keep supporting East Kilbride, which, of course, the hon. Gentleman, through his desire to break up the United Kingdom, would be throwing away.
UK-EU Negotiations — House of Commons, 2020-06-16
Topic: Mixed Topics
Michael Andrew Gove (Conservative, Centre-right): British businesses responded warmly to the announcement we made on Friday as a pragmatic and flexible approach. The only alternative to the approach we outlined would be to extend the transition period. I know that is the position of the Labour party in London and in Wales, but we do not know what the position of the Labour party in London and in Leeds is. [Hon. Members: "What?"] We do not know the position of the Labour Front-Bench and the right hon. Member for Leeds Central (Hilary Benn).
UK-EU Negotiations — House of Commons, 2020-06-16
Topic: Mixed Topics
Michael Andrew Gove (Conservative, Centre-right): I am very conscious of the mistakes made during our accession and the damage that the common fisheries policy has done, not just to our coastal communities, but to the husbanding of a very valuable marine resource. We have certainly made it clear to the EU that we will be an independent coastal state and we will have annual negotiations.
UK-EU Negotiations — House of Commons, 2020-06-16
Topic: Mixed Topics
Michael Andrew Gove (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend is absolutely right. There is clarity and certainty from some parties in this House. The Scottish National party wants an extension, as do the Social Democratic and Labour party, the Alliance party and the Liberal Democrats. The Democratic Unionist party, like us, does not want one, but there is still uncertainty about what the Labour party wants. As long as that uncertainty lasts, business will want answers.
UK-EU Negotiations — House of Commons, 2020-06-16
Topic: Mixed Topics
Michael Andrew Gove (Conservative, Centre-right): As the hon. Lady knows, my professional career started in the north-east of England, and I have enormous affection and respect for the way in which she champions the interests of her constituents. She is right that part of the north-east’s economic success depends on manufacturing and supply chains. That is why we will ensure that the north-east of England not just is safeguarded, but has its economic prospects enhanced, not least by the establishment—we hope—when we are outside the UK, of a free port in the north-east.
UK-EU Negotiations — House of Commons, 2020-06-16
Topic: Mixed Topics
Michael Andrew Gove (Conservative, Centre-right): I and the Paymaster General have enjoyed long conversations with representatives of the Scottish Government. Mike Russell and other Ministers, including Fergus Ewing, are always a pleasure to engage with. They bring a wealth of experience and a light touch to our conversations, which I always enjoy, appreciate, am better informed by and benefit from. The real threat to jobs in Scotland would be a reckless decision to smash the United Kingdom after 300 years of shared prosperity.
UK-EU Negotiations — House of Commons, 2020-06-16
Topic: Other
Eleanor Fulton Laing (Conservative, Centre-right): If hon. Members wish to be kind to their colleagues, I implore them to ask short questions, so the Minister can also give short answers. That way, everyone who has the opportunity to speak will be able to do so. If not, some people will be left out, which is not fair.
UK-EU Negotiations — House of Commons, 2020-06-16
Topic: Mixed Topics
Michael Andrew Gove (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend is absolutely spot on. Of course we are not going to resile from our high standards; our standards will be higher than ever before when it comes to consumer protection, workers’ rights and the environment. What we can never accept—what no independent sovereign nation could ever accept—is the jurisdiction of a foreign court on those matters.
UK-EU Negotiations — House of Commons, 2020-06-16
Topic: Immigration
Felicia Jane Beatrix Drummond (Conservative, Centre-right): At present, the UK is offering EU citizens visa-free travel for six months out of 12. The EU is only offering 90 days in 180, which is the same as the standard Schengen agreement. That would be an unwelcome restriction to sailors, travellers and those who have homes in EU countries. Will my right hon. Friend update us on the negotiations in that area?
UK-EU Negotiations — House of Commons, 2020-06-16
Topic: Mixed Topics
Michael Andrew Gove (Conservative, Centre-right): Yes. My hon. Friend makes a good point. We want to make sure that we have reciprocity in the way in which UK and EU citizens can enjoy sport, leisure and other activities, including business activities, in the future. I also take this opportunity to wish my hon. Friend a very happy birthday.
UK-EU Negotiations — House of Commons, 2020-06-16
Topic: Mixed Topics
Michael Andrew Gove (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend is absolutely right. I take this opportunity to say that whether it is the superb workforce at Rolls-Royce or others in aerospace, their technical expertise and manufacturing skill will be central to the future of Britain’s success. We need to make sure that we promote their expertise not just in our relationship with the European Union, but in our relationship with other countries. They are the best of British.
UK-EU Negotiations — House of Commons, 2020-06-16
Topic: Civil Rights
Thomas Patrick Hunt (Conservative, Centre-right): Does my right hon. Friend agree that the Leader of Her Majesty’s Opposition is beginning to develop a reputation for going to ground on the most contentious issues, such as whether his party supports an extension of the transition period or whether he continues to think backing freedom of movement is democratically acceptable after the 2016 referendum and the general election—
UK-EU Negotiations — House of Commons, 2020-06-16
Topic: Other
Nigel Martin Evans (Conservative, Centre-right): Order. Mr Hunt, resume your seat for just a second, and I will explain that the Minister is not responsible for the policy of Opposition Members. Please could you get to the question for which the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is responsible.
UK-EU Negotiations — House of Commons, 2020-06-16
Topic: Mixed Topics
Thomas Patrick Hunt (Conservative, Centre-right): Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. Will my right hon. Friend confirm that, by contrast, those on this side of the House will be resolute and determined in ending the transition period on 31 December and freedom of movement along with it?
UK-EU Negotiations — House of Commons, 2020-06-16
Topic: Mixed Topics
Mark James Harper (Conservative, Centre-right): First, I commend my right hon. Friend and our chief negotiator, David Frost, for their resolve in ensuring that we deliver our promise to end the transition period at the end of this year. Can my right hon. Friend confirm that it remains the intention of the Government to negotiate a security arrangement outside the ambit of the European Court of Justice that will ensure that we remain protected from foreign criminals coming into Britain and that we stop criminals escaping the jurisdiction of our courts so that we can bring them to justice?
Free School Meals: Summer Holidays — House of Commons, 2020-06-16
Topic: Other
Nigel Martin Evans (Conservative, Centre-right): The amendment is not being moved, so we move straight into the debate. A lot of Members have shown interest in this particular debate, so please can I ask, in both the opening and the response to this motion, please be mindful that so many people wish to participate?
Free School Meals: Summer Holidays — House of Commons, 2020-06-16
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Gavin Alexander Williamson (Conservative, Centre-right): I will make some progress It may be that the retailer was in a sparse area and there were no other retailers that the family were able to use, or the family were in an area where there was not a list of available retailers.
Free School Meals: Summer Holidays — House of Commons, 2020-06-16
Topic: Mixed Topics
Jonathan Edward Gullis (Conservative, Centre-right): My right hon. Friend will be well aware that in Stoke-on-Trent we have the wonderful Hubb Foundation, run by Carol Shanahan, the owner of Port Vale football club. Linking with the comments of my hon. Friend the Member for Stockton South (Matt Vickers), I urge the Secretary of State to look into how we can expand the holiday programmes so that every town, city and village has some access to great programmes that not only help with health and wellbeing but do educational work to help the most disadvantaged in our communities.
Free School Meals: Summer Holidays — House of Commons, 2020-06-16
Topic: Mixed Topics
Gavin Alexander Williamson (Conservative, Centre-right): I am very familiar with the schemes that have been run in Stoke-on-Trent and have had the opportunity to meet Mrs Shanahan, whom I commend, as well as a Stoke-on-Trent City Council and its leader Councillor Abi Brown, who have played such an important role in the opportunity area that we have established in Stoke-on-Trent, which is making a real difference to so many children’s lives. I would be happy to discuss in more detail with my hon. Friend, as well as my hon. Friend the Member for Stockton South (Matt Vickers), how we can make sure that, with holiday activity programmes, we can make a difference to children’s lives, not just through food but through activities.
Free School Meals: Summer Holidays — House of Commons, 2020-06-16
Topic: Mixed Topics
Jason McCartney (Conservative, Centre-right): On behalf of the 13,532 vulnerable children on free school meals in Kirklees, I thank my right hon. Friend for his announcement today about continuing free school meals through the summer. As Marcus Rashford said, this is not about politics; it is about doing the right thing for vulnerable children and their families. Will my right hon. Friend continue to focus on doing the right thing for these children?
Free School Meals: Summer Holidays — House of Commons, 2020-06-16
Topic: Mixed Topics
Dean Russell (Conservative, Centre-right): Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker; I will now get rid of half my speech—which, thankfully, I had not actually written, so that is all good I pay tribute to Jo Cox, as Mr Speaker did this morning. Sadly, I never got to know her or meet her, but we shared a passion for tackling loneliness. I will continue to take that fight on in Parliament, even though she is sadly no longer with us to do so I wish to speak about the challenges that all of us in this Chamber face in working together—we have heard a lot about that today. The challenge is that when the Government listen, we get attacked. When I hear the phrase U-turn, as I have in most speeches today, I do not hear U-turn; I hear, "Thank you. You listened." That is the sentiment that we need in order to work together to tackle the really big issues. Since the start of this this pandemic we have worked together in a really great way, especially in the early days. I would say that Government have been agile in our approach.
Pubs as Takeaway Restaurants — House of Commons, 2020-05-19
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Charles George Eustice (Conservative, Centre-right): The Government welcome the reopening of food-to-go businesses in line with social distancing measures and have relaxed planning rules so that pubs and restaurants can operate as hot food takeaways. We published guidance for restaurants offering takeaway or delivery services, which has been widely welcomed by the sector. The UK Government, along with the devolved Administrations, are working closely with the food and drink and hospitality sectors to support their gradual reopening and continued operations.
Pubs as Takeaway Restaurants — House of Commons, 2020-05-19
Topic: Domestic Commerce
David Mervyn Johnston (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank my right hon. Friend for that answer. Pubs like the Fleur De Lys in East Hagbourne have been doing a great job, with takeaway pints of beer and food three nights a week, from fish and chips to roasts. Can he confirm that he actively encourages that but knows that it is not a substitute for being properly open and that the Government will work with pubs to guide them on how they can do so safely as soon as possible?
Pubs as Takeaway Restaurants — House of Commons, 2020-05-19
Topic: Mixed Topics
Charles George Eustice (Conservative, Centre-right): We were very clear when we imposed the original restrictions at the point of lockdown that those did not extend to takeaway food outlets. We were clear that we wanted to support those pubs and restaurants that wanted to remain open, offering takeaway food. Those that have done have made an important contribution to our food supply at this difficult time, and we very much welcome the steps they have taken. Of course, we also recognise that until things return to something closer to normal and they can reopen normally—hopefully later this summer—that will not give them all the trade they previously had.
Pubs as Takeaway Restaurants — House of Commons, 2020-05-19
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Shaun Stephen Bailey (Conservative, Centre-right): I am encouraged by my right hon. Friend’s response. Our pubs are at the heart of the communities I represent in Wednesbury, Oldbury and Tipton. What work will he be undertaking alongside his colleagues across Government and, more importantly, on a regional level with our West Midlands Mayor, Andy Street, to ensure that pubs in the Black Country have all the means necessary to survive and thrive again once the crisis is over?
Pubs as Takeaway Restaurants — House of Commons, 2020-05-19
Topic: Mixed Topics
Charles George Eustice (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend makes an important point. Pubs are at the heart of our community, and the fact that they have been forced to close has caused difficulty for many of them. As the Prime Minister has outlined, we intend that the hospitality sector, including pubs, will be able to tentatively start gradually opening, hopefully during the month of July, subject to the epidemiology supporting such a move. We are already working with the hospitality and pub sector to identify what social distancing measures they might be able to put in place to make that work properly.
Supermarket Supply Chains — House of Commons, 2020-05-19
Topic: Mixed Topics
Charles George Eustice (Conservative, Centre-right): We have worked closely with retailers and suppliers to ensure the security of supply chains, while also protecting staff safety. I would like to put on record again my thanks to the sector for demonstrating such resilience and flexibility in the face of the crisis. Staff have worked around the clock to ensure that people have the food they need. To support industry, we have introduced temporary measures, including temporary relaxations to competition law, and extended delivery hour regulations, and we have published guidance to help to ensure that workplaces and retail spaces are as safe as possible.
Supermarket Supply Chains — House of Commons, 2020-05-19
Topic: Mixed Topics
David Timothy Simmonds (Conservative, Centre-right): To support the resilience of the supermarkets and food shops on which my constituents in Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner depend, what steps is my right hon. Friend taking to ensure that people who work in food supply and food retail are able to access priority testing for covid-19, so that they can get back to work?
Parliamentary Works Programme: Cost — House of Commons, 2020-05-19
Topic: Public Lands
Michael Louis David Fabricant (Conservative, Centre-right): May I associate myself with the comments made earlier about 650 super-spreaders returning to Parliament We are currently spending in the order of several million pounds to repair the roofs and the brickwork, and to stop fire damage to that marvellous building, the Palace of Westminster. That is all correct. However, as my right hon. Friend said, there is perhaps some doubt as to whether R&R will go ahead, so I may I ask him to ensure that huge amounts of money are not now spent on a project that would cost between £4 billion and £8 billion to complete, if it is ever done at all?
Electoral Commission: Effectiveness — House of Commons, 2020-05-19
Topic: Mixed Topics
Peter William Bone (Conservative, Centre-right): May I congratulate the hon. Member on his new responsibilities? But this is not about figures— it is about the way that the Electoral Commission has hounded leave campaigners. There have been 34 investigations, eight court cases, and at least four people referred to the police for criminal investigation—and it has all come to nowt. Would the hon. Member support a review by the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee?
Church Commissioners — House of Commons, 2020-05-19
Topic: Civil Rights
Andrew Edmund Armstrong Selous (Conservative, Centre-right): With no access to our church buildings, considerable innovation by the clergy has seen the creation of virtual prayer services, school assemblies, study groups, fellowship meetings and craft workshops. That is in addition to online church services, bereavement counselling, marriage preparation and marriage support.
Church Commissioners — House of Commons, 2020-05-19
Topic: Civil Rights
Andrew Edmund Armstrong Selous (Conservative, Centre-right): I am so pleased to hear how the work of the church benefits my hon. Friend’s family and the families of many of her Penistone and Stocksbridge constituents. I also recommend that families check out the Faith at Home video resources of the Church of England, which nurture a growing faith and this month focus on hope, courage, love and humility—all qualities that we need at work and in the community, as well as at home.
Clergy’s Access to Churches — House of Commons, 2020-05-19
Topic: Civil Rights
Andrew Edmund Armstrong Selous (Conservative, Centre-right): Clergy can now return to their churches to pray and live-stream services. For the time being, churches must remain closed for public worship, as set out in law. The Government set out their ambition to reopen places of worship from 4 July, subject to further scientific advice. No place of worship will be able to reopen before a final decision by the Government, the necessary changes to the legal position in the published regulations and the accompanying decision by the diocesan bishop, which will take into account local circumstances.
Clergy’s Access to Churches — House of Commons, 2020-05-19
Topic: Civil Rights
Jerome Patrick Burke Mayhew (Conservative, Centre-right): During this national crisis, there has been a vital role for the established Church to represent the concerns and fears of the whole nation. Does my hon. Friend agree that the physical presence of a parish church, open for prayer and attended by its priests, is an important signal that we are not alone in our struggle? Health workers, care workers, bin collectors, posties and now all those who are unable to undertake their work from home have been asked to accept additional personal risk to carry out their important work for the health and wellbeing of the nation. Should our clergy not be allowed to provide the same level of service to their—[Inaudible.]