argyrotsipi/train-dataset huggingface dataset:
European Union (Withdrawal) Bill — House of Commons, 2018-01-17
Topic: International Affairs
William Nigel Paul Cash (Conservative, Centre-right): In brief, this Bill, with clause 1, which says that we are repealing the European Communities Act 1972, reflects the will of the people on 23 June 2016 and the will of this House, as expressed in the votes. So there are two absolutely valid reasons why this Bill must go through: it represents the will of the people outside the House; and it represents the will of the people inside the House. Therefore, I say one thing only when it goes to the House of Lords: those in the House of Lords must surely realise that they agreed to the European Union Referendum Act 2015, a sovereign Act of Parliament, which went through and enabled the question of whether we leave or remain in the European Community to be decided by the people outside. That was a transfer of power deliberately taken by this House and it must be carried through That is all I need to say, other than that for 33 years it has been my privilege to try to fight for this proposal and I am deeply grateful to all the people in the House who have agreed to it and to those who have exercised their democratic right to oppose those views.
European Union (Withdrawal) Bill — House of Commons, 2018-01-17
Topic: International Affairs
Edward Julian Egerton Leigh (Conservative, Centre-right): The shadow Secretary of State said that this Bill is not fit for purpose, and I agree with him. It is not fit for purpose for staying in the EU, but it is fit for purpose for implementing the greatest festival of democracy that this country has ever known. In June 2016, 17 million of our citizens voted to leave the EU, and all this Government are doing is implementing that decision in a positive way that will ensure that we are generous to all the EU citizens who live here, generous in terms of the EU budget and, in this Bill, generous in taking all EU laws and directives into our law In Zurich in 1946, Winston Churchill outlined his vision for Europe, but he made it clear that we should not be part of that united Europe. In 1972, plagued with self-doubt, we joined the European Union. Tonight—this historic moment—we plough a new historic course to create a world fit for free trade. Vote for the Third Reading.
Business without Debate — House of Commons, 2018-01-17
Topic: Foreign Trade
John Simon Bercow (Conservative, Centre-right): We come now to the Trade Bill programme (No.2) motion, in which the Foreign Secretary is displaying an eccentric but insatiable interest Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 83A(7)), That the Order of 9 January (Trade Bill: Programme) be varied as follows: In paragraph (2) of the Order (conclusion of proceedings in Public Bill Committee) for "Tuesday 30 January" substitute "Thursday 1 February".—(Amanda Milling.) Question agreed to.
Paradise Golf Resort, Morocco — House of Commons, 2018-01-17
Topic: International Affairs
George Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative, Centre-right): I congratulate the right hon. Gentleman on securing this Adjournment debate, which I fully support. My constituent Dr Shawarna Lasker is in exactly the same position as his constituents and I have written to the ambassador. I agree that the Moroccan Government have to stop hiding and pretending that they are working behind the scenes. Clearly, nothing is happening and individuals who invested for good reasons, and good reasons alone, are being let down.
Community Transport: Licensing — House of Commons, 2018-01-18
Topic: Transportation
Alexander Jesse Norman (Conservative, Centre-right): In the first Transport questions since the beginning of the year, the Year of Engineering, I would like to put on record my thanks to my right hon. Friend the Member for South Holland and The Deepings (Mr Hayes) and my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool North and Cleveleys (Paul Maynard) for all the work that they have done The Government want to protect as many community transport services as possible. We will soon be consulting on the issuance and use of permits, and have been working to interpret the scope of the exemptions to the regulations as widely as the law will allow.
Community Transport: Licensing — House of Commons, 2018-01-18
Topic: Transportation
Alexander Jesse Norman (Conservative, Centre-right): I do not recognise the description that the hon. Gentleman gives. I have been up and down the country talking to community transport schemes. It is not at all clear that the implication for local community transport operators will be anything like as severe as has been suggested, and the one case that has been tested has been referred back for further evidence gathering.
Community Transport: Licensing — House of Commons, 2018-01-18
Topic: Transportation
Robert Alexander Courts (Conservative, Centre-right): I am grateful to the Minister for recently visiting my constituency, where he saw the great work being done by Our Bus Bartons. He will know that such companies all over the country are urgently seeking reassurance, but can he clarify whether any action proposed by the transport commissioner reflects upon the consultation that is taking place, or whether the consultation will be taking place in any event?
Community Transport: Licensing — House of Commons, 2018-01-18
Topic: Transportation
Alexander Jesse Norman (Conservative, Centre-right): The consultation will be taking place in any event, and the details will be announced shortly. I greatly enjoyed my visit to see the Our Bus group, which is a model of good practice in local community transport.
Community Transport: Licensing — House of Commons, 2018-01-18
Topic: Transportation
Alexander Jesse Norman (Conservative, Centre-right): I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for welcoming me to my job. I have actually been in it for a while, so I am sorry not to have made more impact on him, if not on the sector. In that regard, he will have seen—I am sure he has noted it carefully—the testimony that I and one of my officials gave to the Transport Committee, which put to rest the question of whether the letter was inappropriate or had caused difficulty. There certainly has been concern, and rightly so: it is a reinterpretation of the law. Some people may not be compliant, that is true, but the vast majority will be, and we expect the consultation to be successful in further allaying concerns.
Community Transport: Licensing — House of Commons, 2018-01-18
Topic: Transportation
Alexander Jesse Norman (Conservative, Centre-right): The traffic commissioners are acting speedily and effectively and as a unified group on this issue. I expect the consultation to continue to give—through the proposed exemptions and workarounds that we have been looking at—further comfort to the sector.
Rail Improvements: Devon and the South-west — House of Commons, 2018-01-18
Topic: Transportation
Jo Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): We are investing more than £400 million in the rail network in the south-west. This includes a fleet of brand-new trains for services to Devon and Cornwall, which will enter service later this year, transforming journeys for passengers. We are continuing to work with Network Rail and the Peninsula Rail Task Force to explore the potential for longer-term improvements in the south-west.
Rail Improvements: Devon and the South-west — House of Commons, 2018-01-18
Topic: Transportation
Neil Quentin Gordon Parish (Conservative, Centre-right): I welcome the Minister to his new job. The Waterloo to Exeter line serves Axminster and Honiton and the southern part of my constituency. It is a great rail line and it needs a second loop in order to get more trains into Exeter and then back up to London. Could the Minister give me details of what is happening with that?
Rail Improvements: Devon and the South-west — House of Commons, 2018-01-18
Topic: Transportation
Jo Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): The Devon Metro proposals for enhanced rail services in the Exeter area include aspirations for additional local services between Axminster and Exeter. This is being progressed as a local scheme by Devon County Council, and we will continue to provide assistance as it develops its proposals.
Rail Improvements: Devon and the South-west — House of Commons, 2018-01-18
Topic: Transportation
Kevin John Foster (Conservative, Centre-right): I welcome my hon. Friend to his post. As he will know, one of the key improvements that could be made for my constituents would be the provision of a new station at Edginswell. Does he share the enthusiasm of his predecessor, my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool North and Cleveleys (Paul Maynard)—whom I see further down the Front Bench, in his new post as a Whip—for that project, and does he agree that it would be a perfect beneficiary of the new stations fund?
Rail Improvements: Devon and the South-west — House of Commons, 2018-01-18
Topic: Transportation
Jo Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): I do share the enthusiasm of my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool North and Cleveleys. We are currently investing more than £40 billion in our network, including more than £15 billion on rail enhancements, as part of the biggest rail modernisation programme for over a century, and we are always on the lookout for good proposals to support.
Rail Improvements: Devon and the South-west — House of Commons, 2018-01-18
Topic: Transportation
Jo Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): We are thinking about how we can deliver the best outcomes for passengers, because that is what is important to us. We are delivering the same benefits more efficiently, and at a lower cost to taxpayers. We are delivering faster journey times and better trains, and I think that Members on both sides of the House will welcome the new fleet of 29 Hitachi trains which will serve that part of the country.
Accessible Stations — House of Commons, 2018-01-18
Topic: Transportation
Nusrat Munir Ul-Ghani (Conservative, Centre-right): The Government are committed to improving station access for disabled people, including those with hidden disabilities. Further funding for the Access for All programme will be made available in the next rail control period, and we are introducing new accessibility commitments as part of franchises. In addition, whenever the industry carries out infrastructure work at stations, it must meet current accessibility standards. I must say "thank you" to my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool North and Cleveleys (Paul Maynard), who did a huge amount of work on accessibility across all transport modes.
Accessible Stations — House of Commons, 2018-01-18
Topic: Transportation
Questions: Having previously chaired the sight loss group, the Minister may be aware of concern expressed by Guide Dogs and the Royal National Institute of Blind People. Equality disability training has been standard for bus drivers throughout Europe since 2013, but the UK’s opt-out will run out on 1 March. I asked about that during Women and Equalities questions last week, and the fact that the Minister knew nothing about it did not sound terribly good in the context of interdepartmental working. Will the UK meet its deadline, or will this be another loss from Brexit?
Nusrat Munir Ul-Ghani (Conservative, Centre-right): At present, bus drivers must undertake licensing training to ensure that they are able to deal with people with not just visible disabilities but invisible disabilities such as sight loss. They cannot obtain their competency certificates without that training. I will ensure that the issue is followed up at local authority level, and if there is a gap, I shall be more than happy to meet the hon. Lady to ensure that it is dealt with.
Accessible Stations — House of Commons, 2018-01-18
Topic: Transportation
Questions: Having previously chaired the sight loss group, the Minister may be aware of concern expressed by Guide Dogs and the Royal National Institute of Blind People. Equality disability training has been standard for bus drivers throughout Europe since 2013, but the UK’s opt-out will run out on 1 March. I asked about that during Women and Equalities questions last week, and the fact that the Minister knew nothing about it did not sound terribly good in the context of interdepartmental working. Will the UK meet its deadline, or will this be another loss from Brexit?
Nusrat Munir Ul-Ghani (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right to raise this. It is not acceptable, but I believe that it is going to be addressed later on down the line at Charing Cross. I refer, too, to my earlier response: all train operating companies have to comply with the disabled people’s protection policy, and if they are unable to, they have to provide alternative transport for the passenger, such as an accessible taxi to the next station. If the hon. Gentleman has a particular case, I will be more than happy to follow it up.
Rail Passenger Compensation — House of Commons, 2018-01-18
Topic: Transportation
Jo Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend will be pleased to hear that, principally because of greater awareness and greater ease in accessing compensation, passengers in the Greater Anglia region have received twice as much compensation in 2016-17 as they did in 2015-16.
Rail Passenger Compensation — House of Commons, 2018-01-18
Topic: Transportation
Victoria Grace Ford (Conservative, Centre-right): I apologise for arriving late—due to a train delay this morning. We in the east of England are looking forward to our sparkling new trains arriving next year, but in the meantime we often face delays, and when people face delays they should be compensated. Will the Minister look at issues such as when trains are overcrowded and people have to get the next one, or when they are cancelled, and see if we can find some technical improvements?
Rail Passenger Compensation — House of Commons, 2018-01-18
Topic: Transportation
Jo Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): I am glad my hon. Friend welcomes the new trains. Passengers can look forward to a complete fleet replacement, with over 1,000 new carriages by the end of 2020. This will mean passengers will be travelling on longer and, crucially, more regular trains.
Rail Passenger Compensation — House of Commons, 2018-01-18
Topic: Transportation
Jo Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): That is why it is so important that trains are being extended and replaced. The crucial thing is that, where there are delays, passengers are more aware of, and have easier access to, compensation schemes, and overall across the system over £73 million was paid in compensation in 2016-17, an increase of over 64% over the previous year.
Rail Passenger Compensation — House of Commons, 2018-01-18
Topic: Transportation
Robert James MacGillivray Neill (Conservative, Centre-right): The compensation scheme works on the basis that the delays are an exception rather than the norm. Will the Minister sit down with me, or perhaps follow me on Twitter so that he can see the messages I have had every day since work was resumed after the holidays on south-east trains, with delays and disruption every day on every line?
Rail Passenger Compensation — House of Commons, 2018-01-18
Topic: Transportation
Jo Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): I share my hon. Friend’s concerns and sympathise greatly with the experience of his constituents and other constituents in that area. The Southeastern service is one of the most congested in the country, and it has been vulnerable to the impact of infrastructure failures. We are working closely to ensure closer working between the operator and Network Rail to secure a reduction of such problems in the future.
Rail Passenger Compensation — House of Commons, 2018-01-18
Topic: Transportation
Jo Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): Passengers are accessing compensation schemes far more easily than ever before. That is reflected in the greater take-up of compensation payments, which is growing at a far faster rate than any delays in services. We continue to work with operators to ensure that this becomes easier for passengers to access and we will be looking carefully at that in the next franchise renewals process.
Private Sector Rail Investment — House of Commons, 2018-01-18
Topic: Transportation
Stephen William Hammond (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank my right hon. Friend for that answer. The irony will not be lost on him that public sector satisfaction in the railways is declining as Government influence is at its highest since rail privatisation. What discussions has his Department had with Network Rail to change procurement and design practices so that the private sector can have more influence in funding and financing future projects?
Private Sector Rail Investment — House of Commons, 2018-01-18
Topic: Transportation
Christopher Stephen Grayling (Conservative, Centre-right): I want to see both. We have just announced the biggest investment programme in our railways—over the period 2019 to 2024—since the steam age, including £20 billion of renewals. That is crucial: one of the reasons why we talk at Question Time about train delays is that the infrastructure in many places desperately needs renewal, which is why we are spending £20 billion on that. It is also important that we bring in additional private finance alongside that public investment, and I have been discussing extensively with Network Rail how we can make that happen.
Private Sector Rail Investment — House of Commons, 2018-01-18
Topic: Transportation
Christopher Stephen Grayling (Conservative, Centre-right): I have just received the proposals from Network Rail, and we are now reviewing them. My aim is to start this £3 billion upgrade within a matter of months. The project is due to really get under way next year. We are looking at all the different options but, as I have said, electrification will be part of the programme.
Private Sector Rail Investment — House of Commons, 2018-01-18
Topic: Transportation
Patrick McLoughlin (Conservative, Centre-right): Up until 1992, when the only investment in the railways came from the public sector, rail usage was declining. Since privatisation, we have seen a massive increase in the amount of people using the railways. Does my right hon. Friend agree that that is because of the changes that the private sector brought in?
Private Sector Rail Investment — House of Commons, 2018-01-18
Topic: Transportation
Christopher Stephen Grayling (Conservative, Centre-right): I absolutely agree with my right hon. Friend. I do not understand the policy adopted by the Labour party. We are now seeing the construction of thousands of new carriages funded by the private sector, and we are getting rid of some of the legacy trains from the days of British Rail that were not up to scratch in those days and are certainly not up to scratch now. That is because private money is coming in alongside our investment programme.
Private Sector Rail Investment — House of Commons, 2018-01-18
Topic: Transportation
Christopher Stephen Grayling (Conservative, Centre-right): The answer to that is clearly yes, because every single train in the north of England is being replaced or refurbished as new. All the old Pacer trains are going, and we are about to start the trans-Pennine upgrade, which will account for one third of the total funding available for enhancement on the railway between 2019 and 2024. That is a large investment programme that will make a difference to the north, and it is a sign of our commitment to the north.
Private Sector Rail Investment — House of Commons, 2018-01-18
Topic: Transportation
Cheryl Elise Kendall Gillan (Conservative, Centre-right): Following the sad demise of Carillion, will the Secretary of State confirm that he is carrying out a full review of the HS2 project, including the business case, to ensure that the remaining private sector companies have the capacity to deliver the project without serious overruns and extra cost to the taxpayer?
Private Sector Rail Investment — House of Commons, 2018-01-18
Topic: Transportation
Christopher Stephen Grayling (Conservative, Centre-right): My right hon. Friend will be relieved to know that the demise of Carillion, a tragic event for this country and for corporate Britain, will none the less not affect the HS2 project. The existing contract is part of a three-company consortium, and the other two companies, Kier and Eiffage, are taking over responsibility for the project. The apprenticeships are being transferred, the staff are being transferred and the project will continue uninterrupted.
Private Sector Rail Investment — House of Commons, 2018-01-18
Topic: Transportation
Christopher Stephen Grayling (Conservative, Centre-right): I do not accept that at all. The hon. Gentleman referred specifically to the HS2 contract. At the time, I reviewed those carrying out the contracting very carefully, and I have carried out due diligence since. As I said a moment ago, the HS2 project will not be affected by this, even to the point, I am pleased to say, that the apprentices working with Carillion on the project are being transferred to one of the other two partners. The work will continue uninterrupted. There is no delay and there are no cost implications.
Private Sector Rail Investment — House of Commons, 2018-01-18
Topic: Transportation
Christopher Stephen Grayling (Conservative, Centre-right): The only station that I am going to be leaving is Euston station for a visit to the midlands this morning. There has been no £2 billion bail-out of Virgin Trains East Coast. The contracting with Carillion was actually not with Carillion, but with a consortium of companies that are equally responsible for delivering the contract and will do so. I am happy to stand here to defend the record of a Government that have done more for our transport system than has happened in decades. That is in sharp contrast with what the Labour party did over 13 years in government, which was very little indeed.
Transport Funding: South-west — House of Commons, 2018-01-18
Topic: Transportation
Christopher Stephen Grayling (Conservative, Centre-right): Figures for transport spend in the south-west show a significant increase—part of a pattern, Mr Speaker—totalling £1.7 billion in 2016-17 alone. That spend is helping to deliver a package of investment worth over £2 billion on the strategic road network in the south-west, as well as investing more than £400 million in the rail network.
Transport Funding: South-west — House of Commons, 2018-01-18
Topic: Transportation
Rebecca Faye Clark (Pow) (Conservative, Centre-right): I very much welcome the commitment to funding for the notorious A358 in my constituency, and I am pleased that the Secretary of State and Highways England listened to local concerns and my calls for a new consultation, which opened just this week with three proposals. However, I would like an assurance that the upgrade will deliver not only strategically, but for local people and for productivity in Taunton.
Transport Funding: South-west — House of Commons, 2018-01-18
Topic: Transportation
Christopher Stephen Grayling (Conservative, Centre-right): This is an important matter. The A303 and the A358 are a crucial part of our investment programme in the west country, and they will open up a new corridor for people travelling down to the south-west, but they do have to work for my hon. Friend’s constituents and others in the region, particularly for the new employment area next to the motorway in her constituency. I assure her that I will continue to work with her to ensure that the projects delivers both for the region and nationally.
Transport Funding: South-west — House of Commons, 2018-01-18
Topic: Transportation
Christopher Stephen Grayling (Conservative, Centre-right): I am aware of the particular congestion problems on the CrossCountry franchise. We will be re-letting the franchise shortly, and I want to see longer trains with more capacity for passengers. All of us who travel on CrossCountry trains from time to time know that they are too short for the loads they carry, and we need to find a way of sorting that out.