argyrotsipi/train-dataset huggingface dataset:
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2018-06-04
Topic: Civil Rights
Questions: On 6 April the USA announced tough sanctions against 24 Russian Government officials and oligarchs, including Oleg Deripaska, whose company floated here in London last year. When will we publish an equivalent British sanctions list on people whose presence and dirty money are not welcome on our shores?; The Home Secretary said yesterday that he is open to looking again at the inclusion of international students in net migration targets. He will know that there is strong support for that move on both sides of the House. Will he therefore meet me and other officers of the all-party parliamentary group on international students, prior to the publication of the Migration Advisory Committee review that his predecessor so wisely commissioned?; The people of Morley and Outwood want to see more police officers on the streets. What are the Government doing to recruit more police officers, particularly in West Yorkshire?; A few weeks ago, the Government’s chief inspector of borders and immigration said of the right to rent policy that it“is yet to demonstrate its worth as a tool to encourage immigration compliance”,that“the Home Office has failed to coordinate, maximise or even measure…its use”,and that“externally it is doing little to address stakeholders’ concerns.”Is it not time to listen to the wide range of concerns about this failing policy? What is the Secretary of State going to do to review it?; The Home Office revoked some 40,000 visas from students of the test of English for international communication following the BBC “Panorama” investigation of 2014, and it is estimated that 4,000 to 7,000 of those students were wrongly accused. The Home Secretary gave my right hon. Friend the Member for East Ham (Stephen Timms) an undertaking that he would look at that. Can he update the House and explain whether his Department will have an urgent helpline for those affected and hold a review of the matter?; I am sure the Home Secretary will join me in sending condolences following the appalling incident in my constituency last week at a car meet, when a so-called drifting car crashed into spectators, killing one and grievously injuring six others. Will he work with me and colleagues around the country to look at how we may need to strengthen the enforcement mechanisms available to the police and local authorities so that we can curb the spread of those events and stop them being displaced elsewhere?; Will the Secretary of State look carefully at policing numbers, particularly in relation to the growth of gang culture in our country, which is linked to knife crime? The police cannot cope without the resources to tackle gangs.
Caroline Fiona Ellen Nokes (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Gentleman will be aware that he and others have raised this with me. We have looked very carefully at recruitment processes in Northern Ireland to make sure that there is absolutely no bias, taking into account the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s comments.
Personal Independence Payments — House of Commons, 2018-06-04
Topic: Mixed Topics
Esther Louise McVey (Conservative, Centre-right): The urgent question was about two cases in particular. This is about those two cases: it is about two people who were affected, and who will receive their money immediately. We are assessing the position, but that is what the urgent question was about. If Members want to talk about matters outside the scope of the urgent question, that will be for a different occasion and a different day.
Personal Independence Payments — House of Commons, 2018-06-04
Topic: Civil Rights
Esther Louise McVey (Conservative, Centre-right): That is correct. As we work with stakeholders, including people with disabilities, we seek to make the process smoother, easier and more beneficial for people in need, and that is exactly what we will be doing.
Personal Independence Payments — House of Commons, 2018-06-04
Topic: Mixed Topics
Esther Louise McVey (Conservative, Centre-right): I have answered that question several times today. As I have said, we have been preparing new guidance and consulting stakeholders on what is best for that guidance and how to work through it. As I have also said, the first payments will be made at the end of the summer. As the hon. Lady will appreciate, having to assess such a number of people will take—and has taken—a bit of time, but the process has been thorough and correct.
Personal Independence Payments — House of Commons, 2018-06-04
Topic: Mixed Topics
Esther Louise McVey (Conservative, Centre-right): We have a clear process for people who are vulnerable and need extra support during the process. If the hon. Gentleman is thinking of a specific case that he would like to raise with me, I ask him please to do so, so that we can establish what happened in that instance.
Personal Independence Payments — House of Commons, 2018-06-04
Topic: Other
Esther Louise McVey (Conservative, Centre-right): I want to follow up the specific instances the hon. Gentleman raises, as that does not sound right at all and I would not want that to be the case. I therefore ask the hon. Gentleman to bring those cases forward so that we can look into them immediately.
Personal Independence Payments — House of Commons, 2018-06-04
Topic: Other
Esther Louise McVey (Conservative, Centre-right): If I did not say it clearly enough at the start, this was an urgent question granted specifically on two cases. There is another case going through the court at the moment, which would be sub judice and I would not be allowed to speak about it at the Dispatch Box—[Interruption.]
Personal Independence Payments — House of Commons, 2018-06-04
Topic: Other
Esther Louise McVey (Conservative, Centre-right): So today, we are discussing those two specific cases and that is what I am talking about. I appreciate that there is a lot of noise from Opposition Members, but they obviously do not understand what sub judice means—[Interruption.]
Personal Independence Payments — House of Commons, 2018-06-04
Topic: Mixed Topics
Esther Louise McVey (Conservative, Centre-right): I appreciate the personal story that the hon. Lady has just told me. We are gradually getting in touch with all the people who might have been affected by the fact that I decided not to appeal so that the claimants could be supported, and her constituent will be contacted in due course. We have been working through the guidance, and the first set of people will be getting paid by late summer. To follow up on the point that Mr Speaker raised, I took legal advice before I came into the Chamber today about what I could say about an ongoing legal position. The advice was that I should not be talking about an ongoing legal case, but obviously when we get that decision through, I will either be back here with a statement or making a written statement to explain what is going on.
Personal Independence Payments — House of Commons, 2018-06-04
Topic: Mixed Topics
Esther Louise McVey (Conservative, Centre-right): Through the extra guidance, the videos and the support that a companion who accompanies the individual can offer, we need to ensure that individuals do not think that the assessment will be scary or petrifying. We have to calm their nerves to ensure that they go for an assessment to get the money that they need. We have to set about making the environment something that they want to go through. Opposition Members do not always help their constituents, because what they sometimes say in the Chamber spreads unnecessary fear.
Personal Independence Payments — House of Commons, 2018-06-04
Topic: Mixed Topics
Esther Louise McVey (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Gentleman makes a good point. We must have faith in the conversations and assessments, which is why I have looked forward to having them videoed to ensure that we see, hear and know what is going on. If the process is videoed, people will get an honest appraisal of what went on and, equally, we might see a more suitable conversation between the assessor and the individual.
US Steel and Aluminium Tariffs — House of Commons, 2018-06-04
Topic: Mixed Topics
John Michael Howell (Conservative, Centre-right): Picking up on that point, will not a system of retaliatory tariffs hurt consumers more than anything else, and will it not be ordinary workers who suffer? Is the Secretary of State as concerned about that as I am?
US Steel and Aluminium Tariffs — House of Commons, 2018-06-04
Topic: Other
John Simon Bercow (Conservative, Centre-right): Order. The hon. Member for Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Angus Brendan MacNeil) is chuntering from a sedentary position about putting something in a bunker. I am not going to comment on that. It is not for me to pronounce on the merits or demerits of the matter, but I simply say, with due affection to the hon. Member for Bassetlaw (John Mann), that it is always interesting to hear from him on the golfing situation, and we have done so today.
US Steel and Aluminium Tariffs — House of Commons, 2018-06-04
Topic: Mixed Topics
Liam Fox (Conservative, Centre-right): I do not think that those issues are remotely related. It has been clear from the presidential election campaign onwards that the President has concerns about the US steel industry and global overcapacity. We do not disagree with the analysis of the problem; we disagree with the remedy being applied.
US Steel and Aluminium Tariffs — House of Commons, 2018-06-04
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Liam Fox (Conservative, Centre-right): My right hon. Friend the Business Secretary felt it would be of the greatest benefit to those in the industry to have them in and to have experts, including legal experts, talk them through the product exemption system. The product exemption system does not require a presidential agreement; it occurs at the level of the Department of Commerce. Knowing how the system works and being able to access it efficiently is of prime importance.
US Steel and Aluminium Tariffs — House of Commons, 2018-06-04
Topic: Mixed Topics
Liam Fox (Conservative, Centre-right): I would be happy to do so. I was in the United States and visited a number of our congressional colleagues just two weeks ago. It is worth pointing out that there are 142,000 steel workers in the United States, but there are 6.5 million workers who depend on steel as part of their business, so either reductions in supply or increases in cost are likely to have a domestic effect. Again, I hope our colleagues in Congress will see— I urge all Members of the House with links to either party in Congress to use those links to point this out—that history repeating itself would indeed be tragic for everybody concerned.
US Steel and Aluminium Tariffs — House of Commons, 2018-06-04
Topic: Mixed Topics
Liam Fox (Conservative, Centre-right): The Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, my hon. Friend the Member for Watford (Richard Harrington), will have heard what the hon. Gentleman said. Again, I make the point that we have set out a reasonable and proportionate response. There is no point escalating rhetoric; there is no point escalating the terms of this dispute. We should use the time available before the imposition of countermeasures to go back to the United States and say, "You still have time to think again, to stop history repeating itself or to stop economic effects that can only be detrimental in the United States and beyond."
Rail Timetabling — House of Commons, 2018-06-04
Topic: Other
Christopher Stephen Grayling (Conservative, Centre-right): What I would say to the hon. Lady’s constituent is that I am very, very sorry and that we will have a compensation scheme. Somebody has to sort this out, and that is what I am going to do.
Rail Timetabling — House of Commons, 2018-06-04
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Christopher Stephen Grayling (Conservative, Centre-right): Of course the future of both franchises is a genuine issue, but I honestly think that the most important thing right now is to solve the problem. Sacking the people who are working to solve the problem would probably not get us anywhere. As to what will happen a few months’ time, when we have seen the Glaister report—that is a very different question.
Rail Timetabling — House of Commons, 2018-06-04
Topic: Mixed Topics
Christopher Stephen Grayling (Conservative, Centre-right): We will do that. I will ask the Minister of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Orpington (Joseph Johnson), to sit down with my hon. Friend and go through this to make sure that we address some of the timetable anomalies that inevitably come out of a big change like this, which are not just short-term issues but actually structural issues in the timetable.
Rail Timetabling — House of Commons, 2018-06-04
Topic: Mixed Topics
Christopher Stephen Grayling (Conservative, Centre-right): This is the important thing. It is easy being the Labour party, demanding this and demanding that, but we have to do what needs to be done in the right way, focusing first on getting a stable timetable, then identifying what has gone wrong and the culpability, and then taking appropriate action. That is what we will do.
Rail Timetabling — House of Commons, 2018-06-04
Topic: Other
John Simon Bercow (Conservative, Centre-right): What a delicious choice: my former constituency chairman, the hon. Member for Horsham (Jeremy Quin), and an Arsenal fan behind him, most of whose family live in my constituency. I do not want to be unkind to Horsham, but it has got to be Huw Merriman.
Nuclear Power — House of Commons, 2018-06-04
Topic: Mixed Topics
Stephen Crabb (Conservative, Centre-right): I welcome my right hon. Friend’s statement. He will know that the Wylfa Newydd project will be the largest construction project in Wales for more than a generation, so what discussions is he having with the Welsh Government to ensure that we maximise the opportunities for the Welsh supply chain, which will be the backbone of delivering this important project in Anglesey?
Nuclear Power — House of Commons, 2018-06-04
Topic: Mixed Topics
Gregory David Clark (Conservative, Centre-right): I am grateful for the hon. Gentleman’s welcome. He knows very well the potential of the development for his constituents and those beyond. I had the pleasure, during the Anglesey Day he hosted, to meet many of the companies that would benefit. It is the case, I think, that some young people already working on the site have been to Japan for training purposes, deepening their skills and broadening their horizons. They will be very important engineers of the future in the UK. I am delighted that, subject to the success of the negotiations, this opportunity will be available for them.
Nuclear Power — House of Commons, 2018-06-04
Topic: Mixed Topics
Gregory David Clark (Conservative, Centre-right): I am surprised the hon. Gentleman mentions that, because one of the problems Germany has faced is that the return to coal has increased the pressure on its greenhouse gas emissions. I checked before I came into the Chamber, and coal was contributing just 1% of our current electricity generation, compared with 20.5% from nuclear. If we are serious about meeting our climate change ambitions, we have to take decisions that are consistent with that.
Nuclear Power — House of Commons, 2018-06-04
Topic: Mixed Topics
Gregory David Clark (Conservative, Centre-right): I anticipated the direction in which my hon. Friend was heading. He will know that, as we have done in this case, we need to offer and obtain value for money for the taxpayer and the consumer. Just as in this case, that is part of the assessment to be made of the tidal lagoon proposal.
Nuclear Power — House of Commons, 2018-06-04
Topic: Other
Gregory David Clark (Conservative, Centre-right): I certainly will. The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right. As we have discussed across the Chamber, one of the benefits of a clear pipeline is the ability to plan ahead and maximise the local opportunities to the benefit of his constituents and many others in Wales.
Nuclear Power — House of Commons, 2018-06-04
Topic: Other
John Simon Bercow (Conservative, Centre-right): In a moment I shall call the hon. Member for Walthamstow (Stella Creasy) to make an application for leave to propose a debate on a specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration under the terms of Standing Order No. 24. The hon. Lady has up to three minutes in which to make her application.
Offences Against the Person Act 1861 — House of Commons, 2018-06-04
Topic: Other
John Simon Bercow (Conservative, Centre-right): I have listened carefully to the hon. Lady’s application. I am satisfied that it is proper for the matter to be raised, and indeed discussed, under Standing Order No. 24. Has the hon. Lady the leave of the House Application agreed to (not fewer than 40 Members standing in support).
Offences Against the Person Act 1861 — House of Commons, 2018-06-04
Topic: Other
John Simon Bercow (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Lady has clearly obtained the leave of the House. I can advise colleagues that the debate will be held tomorrow, Tuesday 5 June, as the first item of public business. The debate will last for up to three hours, and will arise on a motion that the House has considered the specified matter set out in the hon. Lady’s application. I am grateful to the hon. Lady, and to other colleagues The Clerk will now proceed to read the Orders of the Day. I said that with momentary hesitation, because earlier a Member beetled up to the Chair to indicate his intense interest in raising a point of order, but he is now disinclined to do so. So be it; we are most grateful to the hon. Gentleman for the self-denying ordinance that he has applied.
Ivory Bill — House of Commons, 2018-06-04
Topic: Mixed Topics
Richard Michael John Ogilvie Graham (Conservative, Centre-right): I welcome the Ivory Bill and the way in which the Secretary of State is putting forward the case for the elephant, but does he agree that one of the difficulties is that if we do things unilaterally they are unlikely to be as effective as if the whole world acts together? Therefore, if we look at the various measures that different parts of the world are taking, for instance the exemption for certain types of ivory from China or the different rules in different parts of Europe, we see that there is a real opportunity for a group like the G20 to harmonise the rules—which musical instruments are going to be exempted and so on—across the world.
Ivory Bill — House of Commons, 2018-06-04
Topic: Mixed Topics
Michael Andrew Gove (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Lady makes an important point: the bravery and determination of those who do this work is outstanding. In countries such as Gabon individuals risk their lives to save elephants and safeguard the animals they love in a country to which they are deeply attached, and as it goes in Gabon it goes in many others countries as well The hon. Lady’s intervention also gives me an opportunity to thank our own armed services. As the Defence Secretary pointed out, only last week we dispatched more trained military personnel to support the work of rangers on the ground. That capacity of a country like ours to work together and use our expertise alongside the commitment of those from African nations will help us turn the tide and beat back the poachers.
Ivory Bill — House of Commons, 2018-06-04
Topic: Mixed Topics
Julian Murray Lewis (Conservative, Centre-right): Among the tens of thousands of people who responded to the consultation were my constituents, Susie Laan and Louise Ravula, who are part of a small but effective organisation called Two Million Tusks, representing the million elephants slaughtered in the past 100 years. They did some original research that showed that, in 72 auction houses covering 180 lots of ivory, 90% of the sales of those lots were unable to prove the provenance—in other words, the dating to pre-1947—of the ivory, which is a legal requirement for the sale of ivory at the moment. Does my right hon. Friend agree that that research proves that we need a pretty comprehensive ban if we cannot tell the date of the product being sold?
Ivory Bill — House of Commons, 2018-06-04
Topic: Mixed Topics
Michael Andrew Gove (Conservative, Centre-right): I absolutely agree. The Bill is designed to ensure that we have appropriate ways of guaranteeing effective enforcement, including appropriate penalties. There will be civil and criminal penalties, if the Bill is passed, and those who break the law will face fines of up to £250,000 and criminal sanctions as well. That is only right if the deterrent effect is to be sufficient to ensure that people are not tempted to engage in the perpetuation of this evil trade One critical point that was made during the consultation was that, while those in the antiques and art markets are determined to do everything they can to close down the loopholes and to end the illegal trade that has contributed to poaching in Africa, there is an acknowledgement worldwide that there need to be some exemptions. Those exemptions must reflect decisions that have been made by past generations on the use of ivory and the way in which it has been deployed for artistic or cultural reasons in order to produce certain specific artefacts at specific times that have a particular value During the consultation, we looked specifically at exemptions for portrait miniatures. These are tiny but, in historical and cultural terms, hugely significant examples of fine portrait work from the 17th and 18th centuries, and they are valuable not because they are painted on ivory but because they are examples of exquisite artistic endeavour. Similarly, we except that there may be a range of items, including furniture, that are of genuine aesthetic merit and of which ivory forms only a small component. We propose to exempt items with a de minimis content of ivory, which no one is buying and selling because of the ivory but of which the ivory is an integral part Another exemption that we propose to introduce is for musical instruments. In the past, pianos, bagpipes and other musical instruments including violins required a proportion of their overall composition be ivory. There are now replacements available, so we no longer need to use ivory in any of those instruments, but will continue to respect the needs of the musical sector to have access to—and to be able to sell and buy—historically significant musical instruments from the past.