argyrotsipi/train-dataset huggingface dataset:
Finance (No. 2) Bill — House of Commons, 2021-04-19
Topic: Foreign Trade
Alexander Jesse Norman (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank colleagues, not least my hon. Friend the Member for Bridgwater and West Somerset (Mr Liddell-Grainger), for a very entertaining and rowdy end to the debate. Let me pick up some of the points that have been raised on this important subject The hon. Member for Erith and Thamesmead (Abena Oppong-Asare) asked about expected revenue for freeports. As she will be aware, it is not really appropriate to comment on that at the moment. These tax sites have not yet been agreed. The revenues, or at least the associated tax costs, are very much site-specific. I am therefore not in a position to comment on that, but of course once the sites have been agreed, the appropriate estimates will be brought forward. The hon. Member for Salford and Eccles (Rebecca Long Bailey) argued—indeed, it was a recurrent theme—that freeports would have the effect of watering down employment protections. The Opposition have no evidence for that viewpoint at all. There is no deregulatory agenda whatever with freeports. Businesses and freeports will have to abide by UK worker and environmental regulations, national minimum wage standards, workers’ rights and the rest of it, just as any other company would anywhere else in the UK The hon. Member for Gordon (Richard Thomson) raised the topic of freeports in Scotland. He did not remind the Committee, but he will be aware, that the Scottish Government originally rejected the idea of a freeport, then rather changed their tune when they saw the local reaction. I encourage him and the Scottish Government, whatever their complexion after the election, to step forward and engage with the Government so that we can agree a freeport in Scotland My hon. Friend the Member for Harwich and North Essex (Sir Bernard Jenkin) talked about the different elements, and was worried that somehow the offer had been watered down. I reassure him that, although he did not notice that the structures and buildings allowance is legislated for in the Bill, the employer national insurance contributions relief will be legislated for in a forthcoming Bill and the business rates relief will follow in due course My hon. Friend the Member for Thurrock (Jackie Doyle-Price) rightly talked about the magnificent port at Tilbury. I have visited it myself, and a thoroughly splendid and impressive thing it is too. Finally, my hon. Friend the Member for Bridgwater and West Somerset put in what I think we can all agree was a typically low-key and restrained performance, for which we very much thank him. He put me ineffably in mind of a great moment in a work of literature and film with which I am sure the House will be familiar: "Animal House". There is a marvellous moment where John Belushi’s future senator John Blutarsky says, "Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?" There is a pause, and someone says, "Leave him, he’s rolling." That is what I felt we should do with our dear friend the Member for Bridgwater and West Somerset. With that, I will sit down.
Gender Pension Gap — House of Commons, 2021-04-19
Topic: Labor
Guy Thomas Opperman (Conservative, Centre-right): It is my mission as pensions Minister to make the UK pensions system safer, better and greener. We are doing that in a variety of ways, ranging from our world-leading climate change and environmental, social and governance reforms, which positively impact pension investments, to taking tough action on scams and unscrupulous bosses, and through our work to make pensions simpler and more easily understood with dashboards, and to tackle inequality I congratulate the hon. Member for North Ayrshire and Arran (Patricia Gibson) on securing this important debate. This Government, like previous Governments, recognise that this is an important issue—one that we remain committed to addressing. It is one of the key drivers of the automatic enrolment reforms and the 2016 new state pension reforms, both of which help to address the issue raised. Through automatic enrolment and the new state pension, we are enabling more women to build up pension provision in their own right, reducing historical inequalities in the pension system With respect to the hon. Lady, I submit that automatic enrolment has been a genuine game changer in workplace savings. It has happened over the past nine years, but the work has been done by successive Governments, including a Labour Government, who set up the Turner commission. Automatic enrolment was commenced by the coalition Government in 2012, before the original blueprint was fully rolled out by this Conservative Government in 2018-19. Savings of 8% are now the norm, and 10.5 million employees have been automatically enrolled by more than 1 million employers Overall workplace pension participation for eligible employees has increased by 44 percentage points since 2012, reaching 86% in 2019. It has been especially transformative for women, low earners and young people, who have historically been poorly served by or excluded from workplace pensions. The proportion of women participating in a workplace pension reached 86% in 2019, which is double what it was in 2012. Some 79% of low earners now save into a workplace pension, which is more than double what it was in 2012. Finally, 85% of young people now save into a workplace pension, which, again, is well over double what it was in 2012.
Steel Import Tariffs — House of Commons, 2021-04-15
Topic: Foreign Trade
Ranil Malcolm Jayawardena (Conservative, Centre-right): First, may I associate myself with the tributes on Monday led by you, Mr Speaker, and the Prime Minister on the death of His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, and the Humble Address of the House of Commons to Her Majesty We are committed to defending British industry and jobs and will not hesitate to take firm action where necessary, which is why we have safeguard measures in place. We know there are concerns that Chinese steel is receiving state subsidies that distort trade, so, working with our allies, we will challenge China and other countries to play by the rules.
Steel Import Tariffs — House of Commons, 2021-04-15
Topic: Foreign Trade
Ranil Malcolm Jayawardena (Conservative, Centre-right): When the Trade Remedies Authority is set up, it will conclude its investigation, which it would be wrong to pre-empt. We are of course working for every corner of our United Kingdom, backing British businesses and supporting Scottish jobs as much as we are supporting those in England, Wales and Northern Ireland—at a time when the Scottish National party wants to cut itself off from its largest market: the British internal market.
Steel Import Tariffs — House of Commons, 2021-04-15
Topic: Foreign Trade
Ranil Malcolm Jayawardena (Conservative, Centre-right): I do love the authenticity with which the hon. Gentleman asked his question; of course, if it were a political decision, he would be calling for it to be independent. It is an independent decision. The Trade Remedies Authority has teeth and will act accordingly. Just like this Government, our Trade Remedies Authority is going to defend the British national industry, back British jobs and support people throughout our United Kingdom.
UK Exports to the US: Tariffs — House of Commons, 2021-04-15
Topic: Foreign Trade
Elizabeth Mary Truss (Conservative, Centre-right): I am delighted that the United States responded to our de-escalation of retaliatory tariffs in January and has removed the 25% tariff on Scotch whisky and other products. This is fantastic news for the 50,000 people whose jobs rely on the industry. I am working with Ambassador Tai to get a long-term resolution to the Airbus-Boeing dispute.
UK Exports to the US: Tariffs — House of Commons, 2021-04-15
Topic: Foreign Trade
Elizabeth Mary Truss (Conservative, Centre-right): We are urging the United States to desist from any more tit-for-tat tariffs disputes, including in respect of a digital services tax. We think that the best way to resolve the issue is through the process that the Chancellor is leading at the OECD. We are in further discussions with the United States not just to end the Airbus tariff dispute but to work with the United States at the G7 to challenge unfair practices in the global trading system by countries such as China.
UK Steel Producers: Level Trading Field — House of Commons, 2021-04-15
Topic: Foreign Trade
Ranil Malcolm Jayawardena (Conservative, Centre-right): The Government back the British steel industry, as we have heard already this morning, and the unjustified US tariffs on steel, aluminium and derivatives imports from Britain are completely unfair and wholly unnecessary. Our rebalancing measures in response to the US section 232 on additional tariffs show that we will defend the British national interest and the rules-based system.
UK Steel Producers: Level Trading Field — House of Commons, 2021-04-15
Topic: Energy
Ranil Malcolm Jayawardena (Conservative, Centre-right): As the hon. Member knows, the British steel industry has benefited from investment of more than £500 million in recent years to help with the costs of energy, and we have announced a £250 million fund to support the decarbonisation of the industry. So this Government are dedicated to supporting the future of the steel industry and we will continue that work.
UK Steel Producers: Level Trading Field — House of Commons, 2021-04-15
Topic: Foreign Trade
Ranil Malcolm Jayawardena (Conservative, Centre-right): Mr Speaker, there are only so many times that I can say the same thing in a different way, but we have transitioned 19 of the EU’s measures and we have adopted systems in Britain for trade remedies based on international best practice to ensure that there is independence in this area. I say to the hon. Lady, as I have said already to her Scottish nationalist colleague, that the biggest market for Scotland is of course the British internal market, from which she is determined to tear Scotland.
Unfair Trading Practices — House of Commons, 2021-04-15
Topic: Foreign Trade
Elizabeth Mary Truss (Conservative, Centre-right): It is completely wrong that other countries are applying unfair practices to undermine fantastic British products. I am working with the new director of the World Trade Organisation, Dr Ngozi, to ensure that other countries play by the global rules of free trade.
Unfair Trading Practices — House of Commons, 2021-04-15
Topic: Foreign Trade
Duncan Charles Baker (Conservative, Centre-right): The wool trade started in Norfolk in medieval times, many, many years ago, and we have always been an outward-looking area to the world, but for trade to be free, it must also be fair. Can my right hon. Friend tell me what steps she is taking to protect vital industries to ensure that they are not undercut by those unscrupulous countries that engage in unfair trading practices?
Unfair Trading Practices — House of Commons, 2021-04-15
Topic: Foreign Trade
Elizabeth Mary Truss (Conservative, Centre-right): We are establishing the new Trade Remedies Authority—which, of course, the Opposition voted against—in the Trade Bill, which will ensure that all countries follow the WTO rules. It will look at the evidence and be unafraid to recommend countervailing duties on exports when other countries do not play by the rules, so Chinese products, such as steel and ceramics, that receive unfair state subsidies that will distort trade and damage British business will be tackled.
Jobs in Yorkshire — House of Commons, 2021-04-15
Topic: Foreign Trade
Graham Charles Stuart (Conservative, Centre-right): New research published alongside the Board of Trade paper "Global Britain, local jobs" estimates that 418,000 jobs were supported by exports in 2016 in Yorkshire and Humber. [Interruption.] Of course, the shadow Secretary of State laughs at the mention of jobs. It is notable how, in session after session, one issue that the she does not focus on is jobs and the livelihoods on which people depend. Of those jobs—I thank her for stopping her chuntering from a sedentary position. Of those jobs—[Interruption.] Oh, she has not stopped. Of those jobs, 234,000 were supported directly by exporting businesses, while a further 184,000 form part of the UK supply chain of exporting businesses.
Jobs in Yorkshire — House of Commons, 2021-04-15
Topic: Foreign Trade
Jason McCartney (Conservative, Centre-right): I recently hosted an online Department for International Trade roundtable with local businesses, giving advice and support on exporting. Will the Minister please thank his team for helping to host that session? Will he make sure that the Department continues to invest in regional exporting advisers to support businesses across Colne Valley and Yorkshire so that we can continue to take full advantage of the new, exciting opportunities that international trade is bringing?
Jobs in Yorkshire — House of Commons, 2021-04-15
Topic: Foreign Trade
Graham Charles Stuart (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank my hon. Friend: is it not fantastic and uplifting to have someone who is genuinely dedicated to supporting and promoting the jobs upon which so many families depend? I am delighted that he has joined DIT’s parliamentary export programme, as have colleagues from right across this House, supporting and encouraging businesses to grow internationally, including through unlocking the benefits of the free trade agreements. As he rightly highlights, DIT has 28 international trade advisers dedicated to the Yorkshire region who help small and medium-sized enterprises to fulfil their exporting potential and connect them to international business opportunities.
Trade and Investment in Wales — House of Commons, 2021-04-15
Topic: Foreign Trade
Elizabeth Mary Truss (Conservative, Centre-right): Last month, I announced our new trade and investment hub in Wales, which will support almost 200,000 exporters and channel investment into Wales. It will play a crucial role in the export-led, jobs-led recovery for Wales.
Trade and Investment in Wales — House of Commons, 2021-04-15
Topic: Foreign Trade
Robin John Millar (Conservative, Centre-right): The UK Government’s plan for a trade and investment hub in Wales is welcome support for business here in Wales. It will support exporters and help to restore inward investment in Wales to the levels we enjoyed in the past. What benefits has the Secretary of State identified that the hub will bring to exporters here in Aberconwy and across north Wales?
Trade and Investment in Wales — House of Commons, 2021-04-15
Topic: Foreign Trade
Elizabeth Mary Truss (Conservative, Centre-right): The trade and investment hub will provide support to business across Wales. There are already 2,000 people in Aberconwy working in export-intensive industries. The trade hub will provide support, including for Welsh lamb exports, which have resumed after more than 20 years to countries such as Japan.
Trade and Investment in Wales — House of Commons, 2021-04-15
Topic: Foreign Trade
Elizabeth Mary Truss (Conservative, Centre-right): The analysis that we produced as part of "Global Britain, local jobs" is the first time that we have produced data at a constituency level for export industries, and it always takes time for statistics to be processed. The new Trade Bill has enabled us to get access to more up-to-date data that we will of course continue to update our strategy with. I was hoping that the hon. Gentleman would welcome the new trade hub that we are establishing in Cardiff, which will bring more investment to Wales—so let us hear from him.
Trade and Investment in Wales — House of Commons, 2021-04-15
Topic: Foreign Trade
Elizabeth Mary Truss (Conservative, Centre-right): We are establishing a trade and investment hub in Cardiff this year that will employ up to 100 people precisely to bring more investment into Wales, more jobs into Wales, and more export opportunities into Wales.
Arms Exports: International Humanitarian Law — House of Commons, 2021-04-15
Topic: International Affairs
Ranil Malcolm Jayawardena (Conservative, Centre-right): Not only are Her Majesty’s Government one of the biggest donors of aid around the world, including to Yemen, but as was set out in the Secretary of State’s written statement, we have devised a clear and revised methodology to make sure we will only license such products if they are consistent with the consolidated criteria.
Trade Policies: Farmers — House of Commons, 2021-04-15
Topic: Agriculture
Elizabeth Mary Truss (Conservative, Centre-right): We want to sell more British food around the world and help farmers make the most of our trade deals with 66 nations, plus the EU. We launched the Open Doors campaign, which will help our farmers to export to the world’s fastest growing markets.
Trade Policies: Farmers — House of Commons, 2021-04-15
Topic: Agriculture
Alun Craig Williams (Conservative, Centre-right): It is well documented that the food produced by our farmers is world class and demand around the world is increasing. Can my right hon. Friend build on the success of her FTAs, especially with Japan, in opening up markets for Welsh lamb and beef, including the United States? There was success with the United States on beef, and hopefully there will be on lamb. Can she update us in particular on the United States and Japan?
Trade Policies: Farmers — House of Commons, 2021-04-15
Topic: Agriculture
Elizabeth Mary Truss (Conservative, Centre-right): Welsh farmers export £144 million of lamb and beef around the world, and the recent opening of the US market to beef and the Japanese market to lamb will boost the figures further. Last month, I visited Kepak, which is already shipping beef to the US from farms across Wales, including in my hon. Friend’s constituency.
Trade Policies: Farmers — House of Commons, 2021-04-15
Topic: Agriculture
Elizabeth Mary Truss (Conservative, Centre-right): I completely agree with the right hon. Lady that Tim Smith and the team produced a fantastic report laying out the future for British agricultural trade, and I am also delighted that she welcomes the recommendations to promote the liberalisation of trade to influence innovation and productivity, and price and choice for consumers. We will be responding to the report in due course.
Trade Policies: Farmers — House of Commons, 2021-04-15
Topic: Foreign Trade
Elizabeth Mary Truss (Conservative, Centre-right): Part of the Trade Bill was the establishment of the statutory Trade and Agriculture Commission. For every free trade agreement, it will produce a report on precisely the issues that the right hon. Lady outlines. I am very pleased that our partners in Australia and New Zealand are two countries with very high standards in animal welfare.
Trade Sanctions on Exports from Xinjiang — House of Commons, 2021-04-15
Topic: Foreign Trade
Ranil Malcolm Jayawardena (Conservative, Centre-right): The Secretary of State spoke with the US trade representative, Katherine Tai, on 22 March. They discussed a number of issues, including how the United Kingdom and the United States will collaborate to address shared concerns on serious matters such as forced labour. The Secretary of State also discussed the issue of forced labour with Ambassador Tai and her G7 counterparts during the G7 Trade Ministers meeting that she chaired on 31 March.
UK and Sweden: Trade and Business Relationships — House of Commons, 2021-04-15
Topic: Foreign Trade
Gregory William Hands (Conservative, Centre-right): Sweden is a close ally of the UK on trade policy and a close partner in our day-to-day trading relationship. I was the first UK Minister to visit Sweden after the EU referendum, and through our excellent DIT team in Stockholm, we work hard to promote trade and investment between the UK and Sweden.
UK and Sweden: Trade and Business Relationships — House of Commons, 2021-04-15
Topic: Foreign Trade
Andrew Campbell Bowie (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank my right hon. Friend for his answer. According to a recent report by the Swedish chamber of commerce for the UK, almost 40% of Swedish businesses are optimistic about business growth in the UK and 70% continue to see the UK as an important step in international expansion. Does he agree that developing links with this greatest Scandinavian country, which shares our values and our growing economy, would be good for the UK, good for jobs and good for developing relations with our partners in the European Union?
UK and Sweden: Trade and Business Relationships — House of Commons, 2021-04-15
Topic: Foreign Trade
Gregory William Hands (Conservative, Centre-right): I commend my hon. Friend for his work as the chairman of the British-Swedish all-party parliamentary group and his mention of the excellent Swedish chamber of commerce for the UK, which was on one of my recent webinars. In my recent call with Swedish Trade Minister Anna Hallberg, we agreed to co-host a bilateral trade and business forum later this year. We have excellent trade co-operation with Sweden in sectors such as technology, financial services, defence and clean energy, so I very much share my hon. Friend’s optimism.
Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership — House of Commons, 2021-04-15
Topic: Foreign Trade
Elizabeth Mary Truss (Conservative, Centre-right): Joining the CPTPP is a massive opportunity for UK businesses, in particular those in areas such as financial services and digital, where the rules are world-leading. It will also cut tariffs for businesses in vital industries such as cars and whisky and help to drive our exports-led, jobs-led recovery from covid.
Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership — House of Commons, 2021-04-15
Topic: Foreign Trade
Elizabeth Mary Truss (Conservative, Centre-right): The CPTPP is a very high-standards agreement, and the rules will have huge benefits for the UK. The reality is that UK products such as beef and lamb have been locked out of overseas markets for unfair reasons, so it is in our interests to sign up to a high-standards, good-rules agreement.
Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership — House of Commons, 2021-04-15
Topic: Foreign Trade
Elizabeth Mary Truss (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank the right hon. Lady for her question—she clearly comes from a profession where she was paid by the number of questions she asked. I will be delighted to answer all those questions and more when we publish the public bundle, which will include the scoping assessment and our negotiation objectives. We will publish that at the time of launching our negotiations, and we will also have full parliamentary scrutiny, including by the statutory Trade and Agriculture Commission, in line with parliamentary systems across the world.
UK Exports: Germany, Italy and Ireland — House of Commons, 2021-04-15
Topic: Foreign Trade
Gregory William Hands (Conservative, Centre-right): The UK greatly values its trade with each of Germany, Italy and Ireland. All trade data is currently volatile, especially due to the pandemic, but data released earlier this week showed a monthly upwards bounce in UK goods exports to the EU to £11.6 billion in February from £7.9 billion in January, including increases to all three countries referred to in the question.
UK Exports: Germany, Italy and Ireland — House of Commons, 2021-04-15
Topic: Foreign Trade
Gregory William Hands (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank the hon. Member for that follow-up question, and I wonder if, to coin a phrase, he has perhaps taken his eye off the ball, because actually there was a bounce back in trade in February. I will give him an independent view from the Office for National Statistics, which on the trade data says: "Exports of food and live animals to the EU increased…in February 2021, after being significantly impacted in January… Exports of fish and shellfish to the EU also saw an uptick in February 2021 as exporters adjust to new regulations following the end of the transition period. The disruptions to food exports in January 2021 appear to have largely been overcome and may have only had short-term impacts on trade." That is from the Office for National Statistics, which he may seek to consult.