argyrotsipi/train-dataset huggingface dataset:
Economic Update — House of Commons, 2020-03-17
Topic: Labor
Melvyn John Stride (Conservative, Centre-right): These are truly shocking times and a great weight lies upon the shoulders of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor. I hope it is felt right across the House that we wish him every success in his endeavours to steer us through this crisis. He has come forward with a huge response to the current situation, which I know will, in many quarters and businesses up and down the country, provide some reassurance. There are, however, inevitably some areas on which there is still work to come, not least in terms of the employment support package. I note the fact that he will shortly be engaging closely with trade unions and businesses to flesh that out. May I urge him to do so as quickly and promptly as possible? Does he know at this stage when the conclusions of that exercise may be reached, so that we can provide vital reassurance to employers and employees who fear for their jobs up and down our country? This is a time in our history where not just days, but hours matter.
Economic Update — House of Commons, 2020-03-17
Topic: Macroeconomics
David Michael Davis (Conservative, Centre-right): I strongly welcome the Chancellor’s enormous loan and guarantee package, but he himself recognised that he is supporting the liquidity of businesses rather than their long-term viability. We want to see employment protected, so may I ask him to fund business not just in ways that enable the maintenance of employment, but in ways that actively incentivise it? It is not the same thing. Block grants will not do it. May I also ask him, when he does that, to do more than just taking the route of sectoral support packages? If he takes that route, tens of thousands of small businesses will fall through the cracks That, unfortunately, means an incredibly tailored system. The Chancellor will have to design rather intricate mechanisms to ensure that we pay people properly, which may involve small claims courts, the insurance business and British chambers of commerce and the like. I ask him to consider doing that, however. What he has done today is important in terms of maintaining liquidity, but his main aim must be to maintain the viability of the British economy.
Economic Update — House of Commons, 2020-03-17
Topic: Macroeconomics
Rishi Sunak (Conservative, Centre-right): My right hon. Friend has made a good point. I believe that providing liquidity now ensures sustainability for the future, but he is right to identify the further steps that are needed to provide support on fixed costs such as employment, and preserving and incentivising that employment. This is work that we are undertaking as a matter of urgency.
Economic Update — House of Commons, 2020-03-17
Topic: Agriculture
Rishi Sunak (Conservative, Centre-right): That is an excellent point. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is engaged in urgent talks with supermarkets to ensure the security of our food supply and to improve accessibility, particularly for those who may now be at home.
Economic Update — House of Commons, 2020-03-17
Topic: Social Welfare
Rishi Sunak (Conservative, Centre-right): We believe in a strong safety net during a short period so that people can get through this, which is why we have strengthened that safety net with £1 billion of extra investment to increase generosity and accessibility.
Economic Update — House of Commons, 2020-03-17
Topic: Labor
George Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative, Centre-right): I commend my right hon. Friend the Chancellor for his bold measures today, which will encourage many small businesses to believe that the Government are on their side. There is more to do, I know. Can I also encourage him, though, in his statement to come, on further employment measures to bear it in mind that the most important thing we can do is to do everything we can to keep people in employment? That will help to deliver growth One area I want to raise with my right hon. Friend, which has not really been touched on, although I think the shadow Chancellor raised it, is the voluntary sector. The Centre for Social Justice has done some quick work on this and come to the conclusion that the smallest elements of the voluntary sector, which have no reserves, are going to lose about £400 million during this next few months, and they are going to be the ones that are called upon most for support in the community for those who suffer. Can I please ask him to look at this very carefully and see what we can do to give them that cash aid?
Economic Update — House of Commons, 2020-03-17
Topic: Labor
Rishi Sunak (Conservative, Centre-right): My right hon. Friend knows better than most the value of making sure that people have the security of a good job, and I commend him for all his work in that regard. I agree with him wholeheartedly. My right hon. Friend the Communities Secretary is talking already to the voluntary sector and we stand ready to provide the support that may be required.
Economic Update — House of Commons, 2020-03-17
Topic: Macroeconomics
George William Freeman (Conservative, Centre-right): I congratulate and thank the Chancellor on behalf of the people in Mid Norfolk for a coherent and comprehensive package, in particular the support on rates and mortgages. In my rural and quite fragile economy, it is the pubs, the high streets, the small businesses, tourism and farming, and food processing that are the backbone of the economy. May I press him on the insurance point? The policies of many of my local employers simply do not cover liability for epidemics. Would it not be sensible to look at reinforcing the insurance industry, which has the wherewithal to deliver the support, so that those that have made money in the good years can help companies that really need it in tough times?
Economic Update — House of Commons, 2020-03-17
Topic: Labor
John Alan Redwood (Conservative, Centre-right): I am delighted that the Chancellor recognises the need for burden-sharing on employment costs in badly affected sectors such as tourism, travel and hospitality, but will he also make sure that there is a package for the self-employed, because some of those people are losing a large amount of their business, too?
Economic Update — House of Commons, 2020-03-17
Topic: Labor
Rishi Sunak (Conservative, Centre-right): I can tell the right hon. Gentleman that we will get it done, we will do it at pace and we very much agree that it is important to protect people’s jobs. That is the security we want to provide.
Economic Update — House of Commons, 2020-03-17
Topic: Labor
Rishi Sunak (Conservative, Centre-right): It is because we care deeply about the financial security of all people that we want to work hardest to protect their jobs. That is the way to help working people in this country. We have strengthened the welfare system, and the measures that we have taken today will increase the likelihood that we can preserve those jobs. We know that there is more to do.
Economic Update — House of Commons, 2020-03-17
Topic: Transportation
Henry Edward Millar Smith (Conservative, Centre-right): I very much welcome the package of measures that the Chancellor announced this evening, but when does he expect to be able to give some more detail on support for the aviation industry? Virgin Atlantic, easyJet, British Airways and Gatwick airport in my constituency are suffering deeply.
Economic Update — House of Commons, 2020-03-17
Topic: Transportation
Rishi Sunak (Conservative, Centre-right): I know that my hon. Friend knows those businesses well. He should rest assured that we are already in contact with them, through both the Treasury and the Department for Transport. As I said, we will work with them as quickly as possible to put in place what measures are necessary.
Economic Update — House of Commons, 2020-03-17
Topic: Social Welfare
Rishi Sunak (Conservative, Centre-right): I have already committed to that urgent piece of work that we are undertaking. We have already improved the financial security available to people who find themselves either ill or off work, as a result of the £1 billion invested last week in these measures.
Economic Update — House of Commons, 2020-03-17
Topic: Foreign Trade
Rishi Sunak (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend is absolutely right to highlight the vital importance of our ports, particularly Dover. They are conduits for trade and everything else that our country needs at this critical time, and, of course, we stand ready to listen and hear what they need.
Economic Update — House of Commons, 2020-03-17
Topic: Social Welfare
John Henry Hayes (Conservative, Centre-right): In amplifying the point made by my right hon. Friend the Member for Chingford and Woodford Green (Sir Iain Duncan Smith), will the Chancellor specifically say whether the charitable sector will be eligible for both the rate holiday and the grant funding? It is critical that we help those whose aim, purpose and mission is to help others.
Economic Update — House of Commons, 2020-03-17
Topic: Labor
Mark James Harper (Conservative, Centre-right): I welcome the scale of what the Chancellor has announced. It is up to the mark. Some of his specific measures will be welcomed by constituents who have contacted me, but may I press him a little on the employment support package? I recognise the importance of coming up with a package that is deliverable, but I fear that if he is unable to say anything more urgently, he needs to give businesses the confidence to keep those employees employed, because some of them will be facing massive reductions in cash flow immediately. Will he look at what he can say quicker than next week to give them the confidence that they will be supported in due course?
Economic Update — House of Commons, 2020-03-17
Topic: Labor
Rishi Sunak (Conservative, Centre-right): We have already taken steps to strengthen the safety net that the right hon. Lady has mentioned in particular. They will be eligible for those enhanced packages, and beyond that, we are looking to do more, as she knows, in the employment support field.
Economic Update — House of Commons, 2020-03-17
Topic: Labor
Rishi Sunak (Conservative, Centre-right): As a result of the actions of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, SSP is available for those who are eligible for it from day one. Regulations are being laid to that effect, and employment and support allowance will also be available from day one, rather than day eight.
Economic Update — House of Commons, 2020-03-17
Topic: Labor
Rishi Sunak (Conservative, Centre-right): Many of the workers in the gig economy will benefit from statutory sick pay, depending on their exact contractual relationship with their employers, but the measures that we undertook last week in the Budget will provide direct support to those people.
Economic Update — House of Commons, 2020-03-17
Topic: Education
Huw William Merriman (Conservative, Centre-right): I welcome the package that the Chancellor has laid out and all the work that he has been doing. He said that he will look at other things over the coming days. May I please ask him to consider pre-schools and nurseries? They pay business rates, so will not receive the £10,000, but they are not within the category of hospitality, retail and leisure. Mine have been in to see me today and they are very worried. It would be awful for the very people that rely on them—the parents. Will my right hon. Friend consider that ask?
Economic Update — House of Commons, 2020-03-17
Topic: Social Welfare
Rishi Sunak (Conservative, Centre-right): For those people, the measures that we took last week will already start to help from day one. The Work and Pensions Secretary has already put in place support to make sure that access to the security that they need is both faster and more generous than it was.
Economic Update — House of Commons, 2020-03-17
Topic: Agriculture
Rishi Sunak (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Gentleman is right that the security of our food supply and deliveries is critical. My right hon. Friend the Environment Secretary is already having those conversations and has already taken steps on delivery curfews to ensure that deliveries can continue and to maintain the security of those supply chains.
Economic Update — House of Commons, 2020-03-17
Topic: Transportation
Rishi Sunak (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend is always a champion of his commuting constituents. I am happy to have that conversation with the Transport Secretary to see what we can do to encourage companies—whether mortgage companies or others—to help people through this difficult time.
Economic Update — House of Commons, 2020-03-17
Topic: Macroeconomics
Rishi Sunak (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Lady talks about other countries. If she looks at the overall scale of the fiscal interventions that we have outlined last week and this week, she will see they are more significant than almost every other country.
Economic Update — House of Commons, 2020-03-17
Topic: Macroeconomics
Sarah Elizabeth Atherton (Conservative, Centre-right): The Welsh Labour Government stand to gain £1.6 billion as a consequence of coronavirus. Will my right hon. Friend comment on how the UK Government can encourage the Welsh Labour Government to spend that money timely and appropriately, because business and people need help now?
Economic Update — House of Commons, 2020-03-17
Topic: Macroeconomics
Rishi Sunak (Conservative, Centre-right): As I said before, we will get through this as one United Kingdom. We have provided Barnett consequentials early and in advance to devolved authorities, and I very much hope that we can take a joint approach to supporting businesses, public services and individuals through this difficult time.
Economic Update — House of Commons, 2020-03-17
Topic: Labor
Rishi Sunak (Conservative, Centre-right): As we have already outlined, in addition to the extensive loan guarantee scheme, we have also announced significant cash grants to business to provide immediate cash flow relief to them. With regard to employment support, as I have said, that is our next urgent priority.
Economic Update — House of Commons, 2020-03-17
Topic: Government Operations
Rishi Sunak (Conservative, Centre-right): As a former local government Minister, I have amazing faith in the capacity of our local authorities to deliver for us in this regard. They are being provided with extra resources to help deal with the administration of this money, and my right hon. Friend the Communities Secretary is already working at pace to ensure that the rebilling and processing of these grants happens in a matter of days and weeks.
Economic Update — House of Commons, 2020-03-17
Topic: Macroeconomics
Rishi Sunak (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend makes an interesting point, and that is why all Secretaries of State have been tasked by me to engage with their affected industries to see whether there are further specific measures of support that are worth our exploring.
Economic Update — House of Commons, 2020-03-17
Topic: Macroeconomics
Rishi Sunak (Conservative, Centre-right): The package of measures today does specifically provide cash support to those in that sector to help with things like rent, but I make no apology for our being led by the public health response. This is first and foremost a public health emergency, and we will be led by responding to that. Of course, the economy is foremost in our minds, and I will always respond quickly and rapidly to any changes in the public health advice.
Economic Update — House of Commons, 2020-03-17
Topic: Social Welfare
John Charles Baron (Conservative, Centre-right): I commend the Chancellor for this package of measures as far as they go, and we understand that it is a moving narrative, but I particularly urge him to focus on the importance of cash flow when it comes to smaller businesses and the self-employed. However, can I raise with him a group of people who so far have not been mentioned, which is the elderly and the vulnerable who live alone? There is a real risk in a situation such as this that they get inadvertently overlooked, and we need to reach out to them. Would the Chancellor consider providing appropriate support for local authorities to do just that—to identify them, locate them and make contact, because no one should be left behind?
Economic Update — House of Commons, 2020-03-17
Topic: Social Welfare
Rishi Sunak (Conservative, Centre-right): I can tell my hon. Friend that he is absolutely right, and the Communities and Local Government Secretary has already been engaging on this particular issue, working together with the Health Secretary with regard to social care, to make sure that, in our local communities, we can identify and protect the elderly and most vulnerable, and make sure that they get the support that they need.
Economic Update — House of Commons, 2020-03-17
Topic: Transportation
Martin John Vickers (Conservative, Centre-right): I welcome the Chancellor’s package, but he will recognise that many of our constituents remain anxious and we look forward to further measures. He rightly mentioned the aviation sector, which could lose many thousands of jobs. At a more local level, bus and coach operators will suffer as a result of people staying home. They provide a vital service to get NHS workers, for example, to and from work. Could he have a word with his colleague in the Department for Transport and ensure that bus operators are looked after?
Economic Update — House of Commons, 2020-03-17
Topic: International Affairs
Rishi Sunak (Conservative, Centre-right): I have already mentioned looking at the Denmark scheme and indeed the German scheme. The point is what we are able to deliver at pace. Other countries have had schemes in place beforehand, which makes it easier for them to do things, and we need to work with what we have got. But the principle of providing support is one that I fully acknowledge, which is why we are working on that at pace. Again, when considering individual measures, it is worth looking at fiscal interventions between this week and last week in the round, which, in the context of any global response, are extremely significant.
Economic Update — House of Commons, 2020-03-17
Topic: Macroeconomics
Felicity Christiana Buchan (Conservative, Centre-right): This morning in the Treasury Committee, we asked the Chancellor to throw the kitchen sink at the economy and I thank him because he has certainly done that. However, small businesses in my constituency of Kensington have an issue, because most of the business rate relief is funnelled only if the rateable value is under £51,000. But they are suffering in the same way as other businesses. Will the Chancellor look into that?
Economic Update — House of Commons, 2020-03-17
Topic: Macroeconomics
Rishi Sunak (Conservative, Centre-right): I very much hope that the businesses that are looking at the range of measures outlined today will see that there is significant financial support for them, whether that is business rate holidays, direct cash grants or access to incredibly low-cost and accessible financing. The combination of all those measures, on top of the compensation we will pay to small and medium-sized businesses for statutory sick pay, is a significant direct fiscal support for businesses up and down our country to protect people’s jobs.
Economic Update — House of Commons, 2020-03-17
Topic: Social Welfare
Rishi Sunak (Conservative, Centre-right): We have an extensive security and support network, which extends beyond statutory sick pay to an NHS that is free at the point of use. Our welfare and security support system works well, and we buttressed it with an extra £1 billion investment last week.
Economic Update — House of Commons, 2020-03-17
Topic: Labor
Geoffrey Robert Clifton-Brown (Conservative, Centre-right): Although I congratulate my right hon. Friend on the package he has worked very hard on, sadly, I received a phone call today from one of my employers, whose contract had been cancelled forthwith. He has had to lay off 1,000 people. There will be a lot of very anxious people tonight. Although they are probably entitled to employment and support allowance and universal credit, they will suffer a considerable drop in their wages. I urge the Chancellor to come up with an employment support package as soon as possible.
Economic Update — House of Commons, 2020-03-17
Topic: Labor
Rishi Sunak (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank my hon. Friend for his support. I have sympathy with his constituents in that situation. That is why we strengthened our security and safety net last week, but the best thing we can do is help employers get through this and ensure that those jobs are ready for people to go back to as soon as practically possible.
Economic Update — House of Commons, 2020-03-17
Topic: Macroeconomics
Rishi Sunak (Conservative, Centre-right): We have taken steps to strengthen the safety net. On deferring tax payments, that is something that is able to happen through Time To Pay. I urge people to contact Time To Pay. The details are available online. HMRC has 2,000 people standing by to talk to individuals. If tax deferrals are needed, it stands ready to negotiate and agree those.
Economic Update — House of Commons, 2020-03-17
Topic: Macroeconomics
Robert Largan (Conservative, Centre-right): I represent the Peak District, where hotels, restaurants, pubs and the tourism industry in general are absolutely central to the local economy. I therefore welcome the economic measures announced, but people and businesses are struggling right now. So may I urge the Chancellor to make certain that loans and grants are paid and put into people’s bank accounts as soon as possible?
Economic Update — House of Commons, 2020-03-17
Topic: Energy
Greg Smith (Conservative, Centre-right): I warmly welcome the enormous package of measures outlined by the Chancellor. This morning, I spoke to Energy Generator Hire in Kimble Wick in my constituency, which has lost most of its order book and is uncertain about the future. Can he confirm whether event hire companies are included in the envelope of leisure and hospitality?
Economic Update — House of Commons, 2020-03-17
Topic: Social Welfare
Peter James Guy Aldous (Conservative, Centre-right): I commend the Chancellor for coming forward with such a comprehensive range of support. If he is to use the benefits system to support those ineligible for sick pay, I urge him to take on board the concerns raised by the right hon. Member for East Ham (Stephen Timms) about the fundamental flaw with universal credit. I also highlight the vital work that food banks, citizens advice and local churches will be doing in the coming weeks. He should ensure that they get the right support for that.
Economic Update — House of Commons, 2020-03-17
Topic: Social Welfare
Rishi Sunak (Conservative, Centre-right): I wholeheartedly agree with my hon. Friend about the importance of our voluntary sector, particularly at this time, and the vital role that it will play. It is right that it gets our support. The Communities Secretary is actively engaging with it and I stand ready to do more as needed.
Economic Update — House of Commons, 2020-03-17
Topic: Labor
Michael Jon Wood (Conservative, Centre-right): A firm in the hospitality sector has written to me to say that tomorrow it must lay off 200 workers and halve the pay of 100 more, because bookings are close to zero and it cannot cover the wage bill. How much longer should it hold off?
Economic Update — House of Commons, 2020-03-17
Topic: Macroeconomics
Rishi Sunak (Conservative, Centre-right): Hopefully it will benefit today from the significant measures that have been put in place to provide forward business rate relief and immediate cash support through grants. That should provide the business with some reassurance that help is on its way to enable it to protect jobs, with more to come.