argyrotsipi/train-dataset huggingface dataset:
Afghanistan Policy — House of Commons, 2021-09-13
Topic: Immigration
Victoria Atkins (Conservative, Centre-right): My right hon. Friend will be pleased to know that once we have dealt with the immediate emergency of moving 15,000 or so people from quarantine hotels into bridging accommodation—I hope and plan that that will be concluded this week—we can then start really to set in stone some of our plans for integration. There are all sorts of ideas, including equivalence qualifications involving the Department for Work and Pensions to ensure that we get people into the jobs market as quickly as possible. Of course, we will also be measuring English language fluency to help those who are a little bit further from the jobs market towards the jobs market so that they can be truly independent and have their own futures here in the UK.
Afghanistan Policy — House of Commons, 2021-09-13
Topic: Immigration
Jane Marion Hunt (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank my hon. Friend for this announcement. How will local authorities be supported in accommodating Afghan citizens, and how will the education system be supported, to help to facilitate the smooth transition of Afghan people into local communities throughout the UK?
Afghanistan Policy — House of Commons, 2021-09-13
Topic: Housing
Victoria Atkins (Conservative, Centre-right): We have today announced £20,520 per person over the next three years. This is because we want to enable local councils to front-load their integration support. We have, in addition, up to £4,000 per child for education and associated tariffs for medical care. We want to ensure that people are moving into their permanent accommodation as quickly as possible. This is where the call for volunteers from our local authorities must be made strongly. We need permanent housing in order to settle people as quickly as possible.
Afghanistan Policy — House of Commons, 2021-09-13
Topic: Immigration
Victoria Atkins (Conservative, Centre-right): I am not going to tread on the ministerial territory of the Under-Secretary, my hon. Friend the Member for Torbay (Kevin Foster), as that is not my role. However, in terms of Afghan resettlement, the letters have gone out today, my officials will be hitting the phones this week, and we will be very much trying to encourage as many local authorities as possible to sign up if they can. It need not be huge numbers per local authority, and, as others have said, these people can make a huge contribution to our local communities once they are settled in.
Afghanistan Policy — House of Commons, 2021-09-13
Topic: Immigration
Huw William Merriman (Conservative, Centre-right): My local authorities, Wealden District Council and Rother District Council, are taking part in welcoming our Afghan friends. The Minister references the three-year funding settlement. What assessment has she made of whether that will fully cover the cost of resettlement? Will she urge all local authorities to think of the contribution that these brave individuals will make not just to their local communities but to the economy?
Afghanistan Policy — House of Commons, 2021-09-13
Topic: Housing
Victoria Atkins (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank my hon. Friend’s local authorities. They have worked very closely with my Department in recent weeks, and I am grateful for that. He is absolutely right on the last point. These are very skilled, highly qualified people who can be our doctors and our teachers, while some of them can—dare I say it?— help through standing for local councils. They can make a huge contribution. We have settled on the funding settlement very carefully because we want to try to encourage take-up as quickly as possible. We also have the additional fund of £20 million to help those authorities that are telling us some of the issues they have with housing. We want to try to make this as easy as possible for local authorities.
Afghanistan Policy — House of Commons, 2021-09-13
Topic: Immigration
Victoria Atkins (Conservative, Centre-right): I hope the hon. Lady will appreciate that I should not be making very significant decisions about immigration policy at the Dispatch Box, but I will take away her idea. We have tried, as I say, to construct this resettlement scheme alongside our existing system, going above and beyond what many countries around the world are doing. We are proud to do so and we want to encourage others to follow our lead. But of course the immigration system, as is, remains there for those who have perhaps sought asylum under the family reunion rules.
Afghanistan Policy — House of Commons, 2021-09-13
Topic: Immigration
Peter Alexander Gibson (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank my hon. Friend for her statement. Will she join me in commending Darlington Borough Council, which she recently met, for its commitment to support Afghan families, just as it supported Syrian families only a few years ago? Will she ensure that sufficient funds will be available to Darlington to meet its responsibilities?
Afghanistan Policy — House of Commons, 2021-09-13
Topic: Immigration
Victoria Atkins (Conservative, Centre-right): Again, I regret that the right hon. Lady did not hear what I said earlier, which is that for those people in Afghanistan at the moment, it is a very fast-moving situation. At this point in time, I am not able to signpost constituents and parliamentarians in the way that I would normally be able to do, and that is one of the tough messages I have had to deliver today from the Dispatch Box. That does not mean that that will remain the case forever, and that is why the work of the FCDO, the Ministry of Defence and others in trying to secure safe passage out of Afghanistan is so critical In terms of bridging hotels, we have yet to complete the transfer of everybody from quarantine to bridging hotels, but the more offers of permanent accommodation we have, the sooner we will be moving people out of bridging accommodation. This is why we have to do things methodically, and this is why we are being very careful about the numbers of people we can welcome in the future.
Afghanistan Policy — House of Commons, 2021-09-13
Topic: Mixed Topics
Crispin Jeremy Rupert Blunt (Conservative, Centre-right): I welcome the explicit recognition of the position of LGBT people in her statement, following the Prime Minister’s statement a week ago. The absence of LGBT people being an identified cohort during the course of Op Pitting means that I fear nobody made it out under the conditions of Op Pitting who would and should have succeeded as LGBT people to make their application. Through me and through our noble Friend, Lord Herbert of South Downs, the Prime Minister’s envoy, will she enable a specific point of contact within her Department who can advise us and the NGOs and others who are helping LGBT Afghans to make applications, so that applications can be successfully made and Border Force’s questions properly satisfied? I fully understand the restrictions my hon. Friend placed on the operational advice that she gave earlier to my right hon. Friend the Member for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling), but that help will be much appreciated at the application phase.
Afghanistan Policy — House of Commons, 2021-09-13
Topic: Civil Rights
Victoria Atkins (Conservative, Centre-right): I am happy to give my hon. Friend that assurance. We recognise the risk. We want to work with specialist organisations to ensure that we help the most vulnerable, which of course include minorities who are LGBT+.
Afghanistan Policy — House of Commons, 2021-09-13
Topic: Immigration
Victoria Atkins (Conservative, Centre-right): We are setting out safe and legal routes for Afghans who need to be resettled. As the hon. Member will know, other countries across Europe through which people are making their journeys are safe countries, and we would strongly encourage people making their way into safe countries in Europe and elsewhere to apply for asylum in those countries. The resettlement schemes are about helping people in region, and we very much hope to help the numbers that we have talked about.
Afghanistan Policy — House of Commons, 2021-09-13
Topic: Immigration
Victoria Atkins (Conservative, Centre-right): I very much hope that the hon. Member is encouraging her local authority to volunteer permanent properties to help resettle families as she has described. On her specific case, if I have understood her correctly, she is talking about children, and she will know that children cannot sponsor adults to come to the United Kingdom under our wider asylum policy because of real concerns that children would be used by people with ill intent. However, if there are asylum matters in particular, the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, my hon. Friend the Member for Torbay (Kevin Foster), stands ready to help in that application, if he can.
Afghanistan Policy — House of Commons, 2021-09-13
Topic: Housing
Victoria Atkins (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Gentleman shakes his head, but the reality for many councils is that we are in negotiations with them and they wanted, understandably, to know the funding. We have now been able to provide them with an answer, and we will be able to unlock more offers of help. On the wider issue of correspondence, as I have said, we will log emails as they have come in, but I cannot give updates that I do not have because of the security situation in Afghanistan. I hope the hon. Gentleman will deploy the energy he has shown in this Chamber to persuading his local council to offer more permanent housing.
Afghanistan Policy — House of Commons, 2021-09-13
Topic: Immigration
Victoria Atkins (Conservative, Centre-right): I have already met the UNHCR to discuss with it that element of the scheme and how it can help with other parts of the scheme. Conversations with other NGOs are, of course, ongoing, and I will keep the House updated as progress is made.
Afghanistan Policy — House of Commons, 2021-09-13
Topic: Immigration
Victoria Atkins (Conservative, Centre-right): Yes, the Home Secretary has already, I think, addressed the House about Chevening scholarships. They will be honoured, and we are trying to make that happen, albeit with the practicalities the hon. Member has outlined if people are in Afghanistan.
Afghanistan Policy — House of Commons, 2021-09-13
Topic: Mixed Topics
Victoria Atkins (Conservative, Centre-right): As the hon. Lady has outlined, the circumstances in Afghanistan are incredibly dangerous, and that is why we made such huge efforts to evacuate as many people as we possibly could in Operation Pitting. I cannot discuss individual cases with her—certainly not in the Chamber—but I hope that, having listened to the statement about the opening up of the scheme, she will see that if the situation changes in Afghanistan and we are able to get safe passage out, the cases that she and others have raised will be able to be evaluated. However, I cannot make case decisions on the hoof at the Dispatch Box, as she would understand.
Afghanistan Policy — House of Commons, 2021-09-13
Topic: Mixed Topics
Victoria Atkins (Conservative, Centre-right): That is precisely why I am working with Afghan civil society to ensure that we integrate people in a way that reflects the values we cherish so carefully as a country, while of course acknowledging the contribution they will make.
Afghanistan Policy — House of Commons, 2021-09-13
Topic: Other
Eleanor Fulton Laing (Conservative, Centre-right): Order. I know the hon. Gentleman has been waiting a long time, but we cannot have this. Members are meant to ask a question, and the Minister gives an answer. Not everyone has to ask all the questions that can be asked on this subject, just a question.
Afghanistan Policy — House of Commons, 2021-09-13
Topic: Mixed Topics
Victoria Atkins (Conservative, Centre-right): As I said, some of those evacuated during Op Pitting and who would be considered under the criteria of the scheme will form part of that scheme, but there are two other avenues through which people can be invited to take part, and I have referred to those in previous answers.
Afghanistan Policy — House of Commons, 2021-09-13
Topic: Immigration
Victoria Atkins (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Gentleman may not have heard when I referred to the fact that we were looking at the Syrian resettlement scheme, which is widely regarded as being a success. That scheme was resettling 5,000 people a year.
Afghanistan Policy — House of Commons, 2021-09-13
Topic: Other
Eleanor Fulton Laing (Conservative, Centre-right): I apologise to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr (Mr Mahmood) for not having called him earlier. In all honesty, I could not see him because of this screen. Let us hope they do not have to stay here very much longer.
Afghanistan Policy — House of Commons, 2021-09-13
Topic: Other
Victoria Atkins (Conservative, Centre-right): I am loth to give travel advice at the Dispatch Box, for the reasons I have given. Perhaps I should take that up with the hon. Gentleman after the statement to see whether we can find ways through.
Afghanistan Policy — House of Commons, 2021-09-13
Topic: Immigration
Victoria Atkins (Conservative, Centre-right): Again, I really cannot be expected to make decisions such as the hon. Member describes at the Dispatch Box. The ARAP scheme has been defined by the MOD. We are setting out the Afghan citizens resettlement scheme. If there are queries about eligibility, then I encourage her to look at the gov.uk website for greater guidance.
Afghanistan Policy — House of Commons, 2021-09-13
Topic: Immigration
Victoria Atkins (Conservative, Centre-right): On bridging accommodation, the hon. Gentleman will know, I hope, that we have had many thousands of people to rehouse out of quarantine very quickly. There are some 68 hotels being used around the country, and we have had to deal with those places as they are available. On provisions and other requirements, we have a scheme in place whereby the managers of the hotels have contacts with the Home Office to provide exactly the sorts of provisions that people need. In addition, local groups, charities and people have donated things that are available to hotels. If there is a particular problem in a hotel, the hon. Gentleman must please let me know, because we will nip it in the bud.
Afghanistan Policy — House of Commons, 2021-09-13
Topic: Other
Victoria Atkins (Conservative, Centre-right): I do not want to have to repeat the answers I have given in relation to correspondence, because I know the pressures of time. As I say, there will be a "Dear colleague" in due course, and I hope that that will help to deal with some of the hon. Member’s correspondence.
Afghanistan Policy — House of Commons, 2021-09-13
Topic: Housing
Victoria Atkins (Conservative, Centre-right): I am very happy to thank councils across the United Kingdom that have played their part. As I say, I am very much looking forward to others joining our voluntary scheme. In terms of numbers, I will not repeat what I have already said. We just want to make sure that we are welcoming people in a structured and measured way, as we have in the past with the Syrian scheme. We very much look forward to working with partners across the United Kingdom to achieve that Bill Presented Planning (Street Plans) Bill Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57) John Penrose, supported by Bob Blackman, Sir John Hayes, Danny Kruger, Mr Simon Clarke, Kevin Hollinrake and Stephen Hammond, presented a Bill to make provision about the creation and operation of street-level plans for local development; and for connected purposes Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 22 October, and to be printed (Bill 161).
Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Bill (Instruction) — House of Commons, 2021-09-13
Topic: Other
Eleanor Fulton Laing (Conservative, Centre-right): Before the House resolves itself into Committee, I draw its attention to the motion on the Order Paper, in the name of the hon. Member for Rhondda (Chris Bryant), to allow the Committee to consider amendments relating to Prorogation. This is an admissible instruction on an out-of-scope but cognate matter. [Laughter.] If hon. Members do not understand that, I suggest they turn to "Erskine May" for an explanation. This is an out-of-scope but cognate matter. It is subject to selection by the Chair. Mr Speaker has decided to select the motion, so I call Chris Bryant to move it.
Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Bill (Instruction) — House of Commons, 2021-09-13
Topic: Mixed Topics
William Peter Wragg (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Gentleman is extremely kind in giving way, although perhaps not quite accurate in describing my condition. On the question of Prorogation, would he mind turning his thoughts briefly to whether that was contained or referenced in the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 and how that Act relates to this Bill?
Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Bill (Instruction) — House of Commons, 2021-09-13
Topic: Other
Simon James Hoare (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Gentleman will know that many Government Members had serious concerns about Prorogation at the time of which he speaks, but does he not accept that we are now back in what we could describe as more normal times? That procedure, Prorogation, had never given this House any problems before and is unlikely ever to do so again.
Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Bill (Instruction) — House of Commons, 2021-09-13
Topic: Other
Eleanor Fulton Laing (Conservative, Centre-right): Order. Before the hon. Gentleman gives way, let me say for the sake of clarity that the programme for the rest of the day would not be null and void. If the hon. Gentleman’s motion is carried by the House, his subsequent amendments and new clauses can be debated; if it is not, they cannot. The position is quite clear; we want to make sure that it is clear.
Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Bill (Instruction) — House of Commons, 2021-09-13
Topic: Other
Chloe Rebecca Smith (Conservative, Centre-right): It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship at this stage of the proceedings, Madam Deputy Speaker, when so much more still awaits us if only we have the chance to get to it The first point to make is that this is not the right place to debate Prorogation. This is a short and narrowly focused Bill concerning the ending of one Parliament and the beginning of a new one, and the process of getting from one to the other, not the ending of a parliamentary Session. Therefore, the Government’s view is that expanding the Bill to cover Prorogation would not be appropriate.
Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Bill (Instruction) — House of Commons, 2021-09-13
Topic: Civil Rights
John Alan Redwood (Conservative, Centre-right): Is it not the case that those who wish to reopen this issue are revisiting a very dark chapter in the history of our Parliament, when Parliament decided to stand against the wishes of the British people expressed in a democratic referendum? It required the British people to reassert their will and their decision in a general election to clear the air, but is it not great that we cleared the air?
Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Bill (Instruction) — House of Commons, 2021-09-13
Topic: Other
Eleanor Fulton Laing (Conservative, Centre-right): Order. I am going to pause the hon. Gentleman for a moment. Once again, because of the screen that is in the way, I could not see the hon. Member for Lancaster and Fleetwood (Cat Smith) on the Opposition Front Bench. If she wishes to comment on these matters, it is better that she does so before the hon. Member for Rhondda (Chris Bryant) concludes.
Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Bill — House of Commons, 2021-09-13
Topic: Other
Eleanor Fulton Laing (Conservative, Centre-right): Just before we begin the consideration, I should explain that although the Chair of the Committee would normally sit in a Clerk’s chair during the Committee stage, the Chair of proceedings will remain in the Speaker’s Chair while we still have the screens around the Table, about which, the House will note, I have complained several times today because they restrict the view of the Chair. That was all very well while we were working from a written list, but now that it is necessary for Members to catch the eye of the occupant of the Chair, it is also necessary for the occupant of the Chair to be able to see all Members. The person in the Speaker’s Chair will be carrying out the role not of Deputy Speaker but of Chairman of the Committee, and they should be addressed as Chairman, rather than as Deputy Speaker. Clause 1 Repeal of the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.
Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Bill — House of Commons, 2021-09-13
Topic: Other
Chloe Rebecca Smith (Conservative, Centre-right): May I initially seek your guidance, Chairman? Would you like me to cover all the clause stand parts and to respond, as it were, in advance to amendments? Or would you like me to return to respond to hon. Members once they have spoken to their amendments?
Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Bill — House of Commons, 2021-09-13
Topic: Other
Eleanor Fulton Laing (Conservative, Centre-right): That is a perfectly reasonable question from the Minister. As all matters are grouped in one group, she may, in her opening remarks, refer to all amendments and clauses standing part, but of course she will have an opportunity to answer points made by Members when they introduce their amendments and new clauses. Or should I say "he"—[Interruption.] I should say "they", as the right hon. Member for Basingstoke (Mrs Miller) has a new clause as well. It is perfectly in order for the Minister to now address everything that is on the amendment paper.
Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Bill — House of Commons, 2021-09-13
Topic: Mixed Topics
Chloe Rebecca Smith (Conservative, Centre-right): Yes, that is right. I am grateful to my hon. Friend and to all hon. and right hon. Members who served on the Joint Committee and spent a considerable amount of time looking at these issues. That is the kind of consideration that we ought to give to our constitutional affairs rather than taking them in a hurry—a point that I was making earlier. Let me acknowledge my hon. Friend’s point and thank him and others for the work that they did.
Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Bill — House of Commons, 2021-09-13
Topic: Civil Rights
Robert Goodwill (Conservative, Centre-right): We would all wish to maximise participation in elections, and the practicalities of overseas voters, postal voters and voter registration are very important, but do we also need to look at the possibility that as campaigns go on and on, we might get campaign fatigue, which might well result in fewer people casting their ballots because they are sick to death of the election going on for what seems to be forever?
Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Bill — House of Commons, 2021-09-13
Topic: Other
Chloe Rebecca Smith (Conservative, Centre-right): I am always sympathetic to that point. There is always a risk when any of us have to bang on too long that we simply get boring, and I can already apologise to the House for having taken 50 minutes of tonight’s Committee in trying to make my way through the material I am obliged to cover. My right hon. Friend makes a wise point, and it is one of the balances that have to be looked at in this discussion. That is one reason why he and others have tabled amendments.
Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Bill — House of Commons, 2021-09-13
Topic: Other
Chloe Rebecca Smith (Conservative, Centre-right): If only I had the ability to give the hon. Gentleman that promise, I think I would have promoted myself to Chief Whip and other positions in a single move. I do not think I should be drawn on the dark ways of the Chief Whip and the usual channels. Instead, I will take an intervention from my hon. Friend the Member for Calder Valley (Craig Whittaker).