argyrotsipi/train-dataset huggingface dataset:
UK Fishing Industry: Non-EEA Visas — House of Commons, 2019-04-08
Topic: Agriculture
Alexander Morrison Carmichael (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): I do agree, and I thank the hon. Gentleman not only for his assiduous attendance at these debates and at other meetings but for his use of the term "highly skilled" fishing crews. Those who go to sea to bring the fish home to put on our plates are highly skilled. The root of the problem is in essence one of attitude, which somehow classes those brave, hard-working men as low skilled. Yes, I agree with him.
UK Fishing Industry: Non-EEA Visas — House of Commons, 2019-04-08
Topic: Agriculture
Alexander Morrison Carmichael (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): That is absolutely the case. It is going to take a long time to get back to having fishing as a career, because the fishing industry has been talked down by teachers, career advisers and the rest for years now. I understand the reasons for that, but I think they are misplaced. It will be a long time before we change that attitude—and it is attitude that is behind this.
UK Fishing Industry: Non-EEA Visas — House of Commons, 2019-04-08
Topic: Agriculture
Alexander Morrison Carmichael (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): I very much dispute the rigour and thoroughness. The MAC has taken a broad range of views, in a broad range of sectors. It has given no specific consideration at all to the needs of the fishing industry. Will the Minister, either by going back to the MAC or else by some other route, ensure that we get the proper consideration of the industry’s needs that—as surely must be apparent from the parts of the report that I have read out—they have not yet been given?
UK Fishing Industry: Non-EEA Visas — House of Commons, 2019-04-08
Topic: International Affairs
Alexander Morrison Carmichael (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): Indeed. As a one-time member of the national council of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, that is a matter that I take seriously. Such mirth as I was displaying had more to do with the Minister’s apparent enthusiasm, rare in Government circles these days, for the reports of UN rapporteurs.
Trade and Investment: Switzerland — House of Commons, 2019-03-14
Topic: Foreign Trade
Thomas Anthony Brake (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): The Secretary of State may have heard an exchange a couple of days ago in which my right hon. Friend the leader of the Liberal Democrats highlighted the fact that, in the existing EU-Swiss trade deal, 19 technical standards have been brought in in common, whereas under the current UK-Swiss trade deal, only five technical standards have been brought in in common. What assessment has the Secretary of State made of the impact of that on UK business?
Leaving the EU: Agricultural Sector and Overseas Goods — House of Commons, 2019-03-14
Topic: Agriculture
Questions: What assurances the Government have provided to the agricultural sector that UK markets will not be opened to goods produced overseas to lower environmental, sanitary and phytosanitary or animal welfare standards after the UK leaves the EU.
Timothy James Farron (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): During the BSE crisis of the 1990s, the foot and mouth outbreak of 2001 and the scare of 2007, even some members of the European Union took advantage of these crises to ban British meat imports, even long after any risk had expired. If we leave with a bad deal, such as the one Parliament has now rejected twice, countries will not need an excuse to act with opportunistic protectionism in that way. So how will we make sure that our farmers are protected in the deals we strike in future?
Points of Order — House of Commons, 2019-03-14
Topic: International Affairs
Wera Benedicta Hobhouse (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): On a point of order, Mr Speaker. The Secretary of State for International Trade inadvertently misrepresented my views and those of the Liberal Democrats during his winding-up speech in yesterday’s debate on our withdrawal from the European Union when he said: "When she says that the will of the people does not matter, it might not matter to the Liberal Democrats, but it matters to the Conservative party."—[Official Report, 13 March 2019; Vol. 656, c. 449.] That is a gross misrepresentation of what I said. I said: "The will of the people is a fig leaf for Members in this House to pursue their own Brexit agenda… The Brexit camp cannot agree what the will of the people is."—[Official Report, 13 March 2019; Vol. 656, c. 428.] I continue to say that more than 50% of people in this country now want to stay in the European Union—
UK’s Withdrawal from the European Union — House of Commons, 2019-03-14
Topic: International Affairs
Thomas Anthony Brake (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): The Minister may be aware of the legal advice from the legal service of the European Parliament issued on 1 February 2019, which states very clearly: "Even in the case that the UK would not hold elections, the new European Parliament could validly be constituted." Does he disagree with that?
UK’s Withdrawal from the European Union — House of Commons, 2019-03-14
Topic: International Affairs
Thomas Anthony Brake (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): I want to say a few words about the legal advice from the European Parliament. I have great respect for the deputy Prime Minister, but I have concerns about the representation that he has made of the legal advice that he has received on the question of whether the European Parliament elections do or do not need to take place. I simply restate that in the legal advice I have seen it is the case that, if the UK did not hold elections, the new European Parliament could validly be constituted. That seems to me to be in complete contradiction to what the deputy Prime Minister said earlier. I hope that when the Minister responds he will clarify what the Government’s position is on that The spokesman for the official Opposition, the right hon. and learned Member for Holborn and St Pancras (Keir Starmer), said that he thought there were people here who were pushing a people’s vote amendment for "another reason". I do not think he specified what that reason was, but I am pushing a people’s vote, as are many of the people here today, because we want there to be a people’s vote and we want people to support that. This will be the opportunity to do that and, frankly, we are running out of time in which to express support for a people’s vote. That is the only reason we are doing this I wonder whether there is any sense of humility or embarrassment from leading Brexiteers about the chaos and political maelstrom that they have created. This is their responsibility through and through. They cannot blame remainers, civil servants, the weather or the Turks—they cannot even blame their nanny. The blame rests fairly and squarely on their shoulders. This is chaos that they have created.
UK’s Withdrawal from the European Union — House of Commons, 2019-03-14
Topic: International Affairs
Thomas Anthony Brake (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): I will not give way. The question today is not whether we have an extension or not, because I think everyone here knows that we need one. When I asked the Prime Minister about this a couple of days ago, she said that she was going to work with the usual channels "to see what is necessary in relation to getting legislation through the House."—[Official Report, 12 March 2019; Vol. 656, c. 224.] All of us here know exactly what that means. It means that she accepts that there will have to be an extension, so the question really is whether we are having a short extension or a meaningful extension—one that will facilitate the will of Parliament, which has expressed a clear desire to find a different deal. I hope it will be an extension that will allow for a people’s vote. A short one would be to enable the Prime Minister to tie up her loose ends after she has bludgeoned us black and blue with her baneful deal and her robotic mantra of, "It is my deal or no deal." I hope that we will secure a meaningful extension. Of course, if that is not granted by the European Union, we will, as others have said this afternoon, simply need to revoke article 50.
Clean Air Strategy — House of Commons, 2019-06-20
Topic: Environment
Questions: What recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on delivering the clean air strategy 2019.
Wera Benedicta Hobhouse (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): The Minister knows that Bath has a considerable air pollution problem. Idling cars make a measurable contribution to inner-city pollution. I recently tabled a private Member’s Bill to give local authorities greater enforcement powers to stop idling cars. Will the Minister consider my proposal to strengthen anti-idling legislation?
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2019-06-20
Topic: Environment
Joanne Kate Swinson (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): I congratulate the new permanent secretary at the Secretary of State’s Department. It is always good to see senior women in leadership roles The Government have set out a new net zero emissions target. Putting our country on track to meet that in order to tackle the climate emergency is going to take urgent and bold action, so will the Secretary of State commit to bringing forward the date to end the sale of new petrol and diesel cars to 2030, allow onshore wind facilities to be built again, and re-establish the Department of Energy and Climate Change?
Provision for Cyclists — House of Commons, 2019-06-20
Topic: Transportation
Thomas Anthony Brake (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): I am very happy to do so. I am a cyclist myself, and I must say that the facilities within Parliament are perhaps not quite what they should be, certainly given the lack of covered parking provision for cycles, so I would be very happy to meet the hon. Lady. I should point out that access to the parliamentary estate for cyclists has been improved, but I agree that there is a need to look at not just current provision, but provision under the northern estate programme and, at a future date, the restoration and renewal of the Palace.
Relocation of Parliament — House of Commons, 2019-06-20
Topic: Government Operations
Thomas Anthony Brake (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): I thank the hon. Gentleman for his supplementary question; I might have expected him to call for Parliament to be moved to Luton, but he did not. Clearly a decision has been taken. Some of the things that he would like might be possible for the temporary Chamber—that matter that was raised earlier—and I hope that he will want to make a written submission pressing for that Chamber to be used to trial and test some of the things that would improve our democracy.
Export Licences: High Court Judgment — House of Commons, 2019-06-20
Topic: International Affairs
Wera Benedicta Hobhouse (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): It is undeniable that the Government’s defiance in respect of the Court of Appeal ruling is disappointing. Given the public interest in the unfolding tragedy in Yemen, will the Secretary of State not at least acknowledge that there must be more transparency in how his Department deals with this issue? We understand the obvious sensitivities, but the public and the House deserve to understand how the Department is coming to its decisions.
Leaving the European Union — House of Commons, 2019-05-22
Topic: International Affairs
Timothy James Farron (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): In 1992, the Prime Minister and I toured the working men’s clubs of north-west Durham and I was hugely impressed with her resilience in front of audiences that were as hostile to her as they were indifferent to me. [Hon. Members: "What’s changed?"] Indeed. But it turns out that the audience behind her is tougher still. She will fail in her bid in two weeks’ time because people behind her who are for Brexit refuse to vote for Brexit. That is not her fault, but it is her problem. For old times’ sake, I want to help her out. If she will agree to put her deal—to be fair to her, it is the only concrete version of Brexit we have yet seen—to the British people in a confirmatory vote, I will join her in the Lobby. Will she help me to help her?
Leaving the European Union — House of Commons, 2019-05-22
Topic: International Affairs
Thomas Anthony Brake (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): At the latest count, eight Ministers or Members of Parliament who sit beside or around the Prime Minister are jostling for her job. Most, if not all, appear to be enthusiastic endorsers of a kamikaze no deal. Given what she knows about no deal, can she understand why any of those candidates would want to advocate one?
British Steel — House of Commons, 2019-05-22
Topic: Macroeconomics
Thomas Anthony Brake (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): The action taken so far is welcome, but this is still clearly a disturbing time for workers and suppliers. We heard earlier that British Steel invested £40 million in Ascoval—the Select Committee may want to look at that. At the same time, the French state and local government bodies invested an equivalent sum of £40 million in that steel mill. Is there anything the Government could learn from that? May I encourage the Secretary of State to be creative in the way he was suggesting he would be, by setting up a Brexit fund that could support businesses struggling as a result of Brexit?
Security Co-operation — House of Commons, 2019-06-27
Topic: International Affairs
Thomas Anthony Brake (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): According to Mr Barnier, a no-deal scenario would represent "a break in the level of talks…risks to intelligence pooling… inconsistencies in applying sanctions regimes", and would leave the rules of co-operation with Europol and Eurojust still to be determined. Given the risks that no deal would present to our security, is the Minister happy that both of the Tory leadership contenders crow about their willingness to deliver no deal?
Benefit Application Appeal Tribunal Hearings — House of Commons, 2019-07-09
Topic: Social Welfare
Jamie Hume Stone (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): You are very gracious, Mr Speaker. Benefits actually cover the whole UK and I represent the furthest-away constituency in the UK mainland. Delays in decision making are troublesome to say the very least. The problem as I see it is that the key decision makers are not actually based in Wick, where there are excellent staff, but much further south. Would it not be a good idea if we moved key decision makers closer to people in need?
Train Operating Companies: Sanctions — House of Commons, 2019-03-21
Topic: Transportation
Thomas Anthony Brake (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): The Minister will be aware, as will anyone here who is a Southern commuter, that for the past three years Southern has been let off the hook again and again. He will also know that, from next month, train operators will switch to "on time" as a target. Southern is currently hitting that target only 72% of the time. At what point will he call for the company to be sacked?
Train Operating Companies: Sanctions — House of Commons, 2019-03-21
Topic: Transportation
Joanne Kate Swinson (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): People in East Dunbartonshire experience an appalling rail service, particularly on the Milngavie line, where only 28% of trains arrive on time. Does the Minister know of any other train line on which performance is quite so poor, or could the Milngavie line be the worst in Britain?
Remotely Managed Air Traffic Control — House of Commons, 2019-03-21
Topic: Transportation
Alexander Morrison Carmichael (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): Highlands and Islands Airports and the Scottish Transport Minister seem determined to drive the centralisation of air traffic control across the highlands and islands, despite the legitimate safety concerns expressed by its staff and socioeconomic concerns expressed by communities across the region. If they are not going to listen to us, will the Secretary of State ensure that the CAA certainly does when it comes to the sign-off of any scheme?
Northern Ireland Assembly Election — House of Commons, 2019-03-21
Topic: International Affairs
Questions: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement regarding the extension of her power under the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation and Exercise of Functions) Act 2018 not to hold an Assembly election.
Christine Anne Jardine (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): Further to what has been said about the importance of talks to get the Assembly up and running again, and the point made by the hon. Member for Dunfermline and West Fife (Douglas Chapman), does the Secretary of State feel that it will be vital to have an independent facilitator to chair the process, because the UK Government—rightly or wrongly—may appear to be compromised by their current arrangements in this place with the DUP?
Services for People with Autism — House of Commons, 2019-03-21
Topic: Social Welfare
Wera Benedicta Hobhouse (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): In that case, Mr Deputy Speaker, I apologise My local authorities have some excellent care providers and support services, including Parent Carers Voice. Does the hon. Gentleman agree that services for children with autism should be financed through council budgets rather than the responsibility being pushed on to struggling families?
Child Poverty — House of Commons, 2019-05-21
Topic: Social Welfare
Timothy James Farron (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): While there are only 300 people registered as unemployed in my constituency, there are nearly 2,500 children living below the poverty line, which tells us that living in a workless household is not the principal or only cause of poverty; low wages are also a cause. Will the Chancellor urgently review the living wage, so that it actually becomes a living wage, rather than giving it an inaccurate label intended only to ease the consciences of the comfortable?
Climate Change — House of Commons, 2019-05-21
Topic: Environment
Thomas Anthony Brake (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): The Liberal Democrats were the first major political party to call for a zero-carbon Britain. We believe that target must be met by 2045. What assessment have the Government made of the climate change mitigation costs that would be incurred by 2045, of the support that would be needed for businesses to help them achieve a zero-carbon Britain by 2045, and of the health and environmental benefits?
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2019-05-21
Topic: Environment
Questions: The Government have an excellent track record in tackling climate change, notwithstanding what Opposition Members said earlier, and I applaud their commitment to doing more. Will the Chancellor consider introducing incentives in the comprehensive spending review to encourage occupiers and owners of industrial and agricultural buildings to improve their energy efficiency?; We are the last generation that can act to prevent irreversible harm from being done to our planet, so we need to act with urgency. Will the Chancellor bring forward the tax on the use of virgin plastic to boost recycling and incentivise plastic-free options? We do not have three years to wait.; Out- sourced low-paid workers in both the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy are on strike because their employers, Interserve, ISS and Aramark, are refusing to pay the London living wage, and in some cases have not paid staff wages for weeks. Will the Chancellor stand up for those employees, and do whatever he can to help Departments bring outsourced contracts back in-house?; According to the Sunday Times rich list the 10 wealthiest people in the country have a combined wealth of £143 billion; half of them live in my constituency. Meanwhile, according to the Child Poverty Action Group, across Kensington and Chelsea 8,500 children—37%—live in poverty, and in one ward nearly half do. Inequality in my constituency is getting worse. When will the Chancellor reverse this trickle-up economy by chasing tax-dodging plutocrats who are stealing food from the mouths of our children, many of them from working poor families?; The Government’s Social Mobility Commission recently stated that social mobility in the UK has stagnated over the last four years. One of its key recommendations is that the Government should significantly increase funding for further education in the upcoming spending review. Given that Bradford College plans to cut 131 of its staff, will the Chancellor listen to his Government’s own commission, boost FE funding and give the most disadvantaged students the opportunities they deserve?; I have listened in astonishment to the answers from the Financial Secretary and the Chancellor about the loan charges. Given that the Financial Secretary admitted that the Government were pursuing six companies on a legal basis over this—they are admitting they are the companies responsible—why do they pursue constituents like mine, many of whom were obliged to undertake these tax changes in order to get work?
Wera Benedicta Hobhouse (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): Anti-idling rules are a good start in reducing air pollution, but local authorities need the legal powers and resources to enforce them. Would the Treasury consider making new money available to local authorities to stop cars idling?
British Steel — House of Commons, 2019-05-21
Topic: Foreign Trade
Thomas Anthony Brake (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): British Steel has made it clear that Brexit uncertainty is scaring customers away and is a major cause of its problems. There is a simple solution: stop Brexit and stem the flow of job losses and relocations. If the Minister is not willing to take such action, will the Government instead look into the idea of setting up a Brexit support fund, which could be used, where appropriate, to support businesses and sectors that have been damaged by Brexit?
Parliamentary Buildings (Restoration and Renewal) Bill — House of Commons, 2019-05-21
Topic: Government Operations
Thomas Anthony Brake (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): I commend the Leader of the House for grasping this issue, which has been around for many years, and progressing it. Does she agree that it is important for Members to also engage in the northern estate programme, which is a precursor to the restoration and renewal programme? I draw the House’s attention to two sessions coming up on 11 June and 18 June. At the first, Members’ accommodation will be considered, and at the second, Members’ facilities will be considered. We want to hear from Members on that programme as well.
Parliamentary Buildings (Restoration and Renewal) Bill — House of Commons, 2019-05-21
Topic: Labor
Thomas Anthony Brake (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): I congratulate the hon. Gentleman on his work on blacklisting. He raises the matter with me regularly. Does he agree that investment in skills must be a priority if we are to avoid importing a lot of people, probably from the EU, to work on things as varied as the carvings, the masonry and the windows? If we do not invest in skills now, those people will simply not be there.
Parliamentary Buildings (Restoration and Renewal) Bill — House of Commons, 2019-05-21
Topic: Government Operations
Jamie Hume Stone (Liberal Democrats, Centre to centre-left): It just so happens, as I will touch on in my own contribution, that I was on the Holyrood progress group, which was in charge of building the Scottish Parliament building, and I can remember the sound and the fury and the brickbats that came my way, John Home Robertson’s way and Linda Fabiani’s way as we proceeded with the project, yet I am bound to say this: I think my SNP friends will agree that now that the building is finished Scotland is extremely proud of it and nobody mentions the price any more—and I for one am proud to have been involved in building such a landmark in Scotland’s history.