argyrotsipi/train-dataset huggingface dataset:
Eating Disorders Awareness Week — House of Commons, 2018-02-27
Topic: Health
Edward John Comport Argar (Conservative, Centre-right): I will come very shortly to overall spending, but part of that is not just the overall size of the pot, but how that money is spent and works its way through the system to reach the frontline. In 2016-17, we spent a record £11.6 billion on mental health services, and that amount will continue to rise year on year until 2020-21, by which point 21,000 new mental health posts will be in place. This is all very welcome, and I commend the Health Secretary and his colleagues in the Department for it. Funding is vital. However, although £30 million per annum will be available over the next five years to fund eating disorder services, the way in which such funds are spent by clinical commissioning groups sometimes lacks transparency. At times it is hard to follow the funding from its source to ensure that it reaches the frontline. Implementation is key, and I hope the Minister will tell us how the Government are working to ensure that every penny reaches the frontline eating disorder services for which it is needed Community-based mental health services are often the most effective local services to help people, but they and in-patient mental health services are commissioned separately, by the CCG and by NHS England respectively. That can lead to a sense of a lack of joined-up care, and it can mean that people have to receive treatment many miles from their homes and families. That can place a huge strain on families, and, indeed, on family finances. Beat’s report suggests that in some instances the cost can be up to £32,000 as a result of lost earnings, travel and a range of other expenses. I believe that funds for eating disorder treatment should be held locally by the same budget holder in the same pot to create incentives for the development of improved treatment and reduced costly in-patient care, with CCGs working to extend their focus on early intervention to include the earlier stages of the illness.
Eating Disorders Awareness Week — House of Commons, 2018-02-27
Topic: Health
Edward John Comport Argar (Conservative, Centre-right): That is indeed very important. A key issue is the need to ensure that, as far as possible, there can be school referrals or, indeed, self-referrals as well as referrals made via a professional medical route. Some people may choose those ways of reaching out for the help that they need I hope that the Minister can update us on the progress of NHS England’s "Testing New Care Models in tertiary mental health services" pilot, which I understand is currently under way, and can tell us whether any initial findings are emerging in respect of the opportunity to put in-patient and community funding into a common pot I cannot end my speech without highlighting the impact that eating disorders have on the families and loved ones of those with the illness. Many of them care for people patiently and lovingly, and delays in securing the help that is needed can have devastating consequences for them. While in some cases it may not be appropriate, for good reasons, in many others, engaging those who are caring for someone receiving treatment—the "whole family" approach that I understand is used in Leicester, which will serve some of my constituents—can be hugely positive. I would welcome any reflections on that from the Minister. Finally, I pay tribute to the work of Beat, which has campaigned tirelessly to highlight this issue, and to the work of those who operate its advice helpline. I commend its report to the Minister, and to all colleagues. However, I pay the greatest tribute to all those who suffer from an eating disorder and have had the bravery to talk about it, to seek the help that they need, and to face down an illness that depends on secrecy, isolates sufferers, and affects every aspect of their lives and those of their families. We must ensure that we match the courage of those who face it, determined to beat it, with an equal determination to give them the support, treatment and investment that they deserve. We must continue to drive down the delays and waiting times, raise awareness, and strip this disease of some of the power that it has over people by talking about it. We must stand shoulder to shoulder with all who face it, with the clear message that, together, we will beat eating disorders.
Aid Spending — House of Commons, 2018-02-28
Topic: Defense
Daniel Robert Kawczynski (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank the Minister for that answer. I am sure she will agree that she constantly has to justify to the electorate the amount of money that is spent overseas. With that in mind, what steps are being taken to ensure that more of the equipment utilised is British, that more of the non-governmental organisations employed to carry out the work are British and that the armed forces, where appropriate, are also involved in helping these projects?
Aid Spending — House of Commons, 2018-02-28
Topic: Defense
Harriett Mary Morison Baldwin (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend is absolutely right to highlight the important role that our armed forces have played, not only in tackling Ebola in Sierra Leone, but in tackling the hurricane in the Caribbean last year. As he will know, the Secretary of State and I are both former Ministers in the Ministry of Defence and we are keen to ensure we work closely with our colleagues there.
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2018-02-28
Topic: Health
Questions: It is Rare Disease Day and we have been singing outside Westminster tube station to raise awareness. What is the Department doing to make sure that those who suffer rare diseases in developing countries are not left behind?
Penelope Mary Mordaunt (Conservative, Centre-right): We spend around £1 billion through our own health service and Public Health England, and into the Fleming fund and other research funds. Not only is the pioneering research that UK aid is funding saving lives overseas and developing ways to combat rare diseases, but the results are helping British citizens, too.
Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland: Border Arrangements — House of Commons, 2018-02-28
Topic: Defense
Paul Masterton (Conservative, Centre-right): Does the Minister agree that the success of modern Northern Ireland can be seen in the fact that my friends, whose parents used to dread the school run, can now wave their kids off in the morning with barely a second thought? Will he assure me that all the options considered by the Government will be accompanied by a full security assessment?
Cyber-attack Protection — House of Commons, 2018-03-05
Topic: Defense
Gavin Alexander Williamson (Conservative, Centre-right): We take the cyber-threat very seriously. We are strengthening our defences against increasingly sophisticated attacks. Our approach to cyber-defence includes a wide range of technical, operational and administrative measures, as well as close co-operation with the National Cyber Security Centre. Indeed, this week we are opening a dedicated state-of-the-art cyber-defence school at the Defence Academy in Shrivenham to enhance the cyber- skills of our defence personnel.
Cyber-attack Protection — House of Commons, 2018-03-05
Topic: Defense
Gavin Alexander Williamson (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right to highlight this increasing threat, which is why we have set out plans to spend £1.9 billion over a five-year period on making sure that our cyber-defence is right and that we develop the capabilities not just to defend against attacks but to be able to operationalise this ourselves.
Cyber-attack Protection — House of Commons, 2018-03-05
Topic: Defense
Richard Benyon (Conservative, Centre-right): Britain’s forces are a major part of the enhanced forward presence in the Baltic states. At a recent meeting of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, we heard of some of the malign attacks on those forces, particularly on the German deployment in Lithuania. I am not asking my right hon. Friend to give me any great detail, because that is necessarily secret, but can he assure the House that we are learning from every attack and that we are training people, down to quite a low level, to make sure that our forces are best equipped to deal with this?
Cyber-attack Protection — House of Commons, 2018-03-05
Topic: Defense
Gavin Alexander Williamson (Conservative, Centre-right): That is a very important point, because it is not just about the work that we do centrally; it is about training our forces to best understand the threats to which they will potentially be exposed as they operate in sometimes increasingly hostile fields. We have done that for all troops engaged in NATO operations, and more globally.
Cyber-attack Protection — House of Commons, 2018-03-05
Topic: Defense
Philip Thomas Hollobone (Conservative, Centre-right): Young men and women traditionally joined Her Majesty’s armed forces, in large part, because of the physical challenge and the desire for combat experience. Should we not increasingly be recruiting young men and women because of their digital and IT proficiency, so that we can develop an elite cadre of cyber-specialists?
Cyber-attack Protection — House of Commons, 2018-03-05
Topic: Defense
Gavin Alexander Williamson (Conservative, Centre-right): As we face new challenges, we have to be realistic that we need a whole different range of skills—not just the traditional skills that have been the backbone of our armed forces, but new skills—and we are looking at how we can best recruit those skills into our armed forces, and not just into the regulars but also into the reserves to boot.
Cyber-attack Protection — House of Commons, 2018-03-05
Topic: Defense
Gavin Alexander Williamson (Conservative, Centre-right): Putin has made it quite clear that he has hostile intent towards this country, and we have been seeing the build-up of his forces across the eastern front. Given what they have been doing over many years, we have to wake up to that threat and respond to it. Not just through nuclear weapons—although our continuous at-sea nuclear deterrent is absolutely integral to maintaining the peace—but through conventional armed forces, we have to match what Putin is doing with his Russian forces. We have to be aware of the challenges we face, which is very much why we are engaging in the modernising defence programme to ensure that we can match the Russians.
Defence Co-operation — House of Commons, 2018-03-05
Topic: Defense
Questions: What recent discussions he has had with his counterpart in the US Administration on strengthening defence co-operation; and if he will make a statement.
Gavin Alexander Williamson (Conservative, Centre-right): The US and UK enjoy a strategic global partnership, which was forged through shared values and the belief in freedom and the rule of law and order, and reinforced by mutual history, partnership and military co-operation. UK-US defence co-operation is today the broadest, deepest and most advanced of any two countries. Our collaboration extends across the full spectrum of defence, including operations and flagship capability programmes. Our troops have fought alongside each other for more than 100 years, and 2018 will be another busy year.
Defence Co-operation — House of Commons, 2018-03-05
Topic: Defense
Questions: What recent discussions he has had with his counterpart in the US Administration on strengthening defence co-operation; and if he will make a statement.
Ross Thomson (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank my right hon. Friend for his answer. Currently, the UK’s defence trade partnership with the US is worth more than $3 billion and includes collaboration on projects such as the F-35 programme, as well as a common compartment for UK-US ballistic missile submarines. Does he agree that with the UK regaining its ability to strike free trade deals across the globe post Brexit, we have the opportunity to deepen the bonds of our special relationship with the US when it comes to our national defence interests?
Defence Co-operation — House of Commons, 2018-03-05
Topic: Defense
Questions: What recent discussions he has had with his counterpart in the US Administration on strengthening defence co-operation; and if he will make a statement.
Gavin Alexander Williamson (Conservative, Centre-right): We are already one of the world-leading countries in defence exports, and we have to seize the opportunity that exiting the European Union provides to expand our ability to export right around the world, making sure it is absolutely clear that Britain is a world leader in technology and science. So much of what we have historically done with the US we can do more and more right around the globe.
Defence Co-operation — House of Commons, 2018-03-05
Topic: Defense
Questions: What recent discussions he has had with his counterpart in the US Administration on strengthening defence co-operation; and if he will make a statement.
Michael Louis David Fabricant (Conservative, Centre-right): May I implore my right hon. Friend not to listen to the Trump-bashing from Opposition Members? There is absolutely no indication that President Trump is attenuating his commitment to NATO. Furthermore, NATO, not the European Union, is the backbone of this nation’s defence, and my right hon. Friend should be—I know that he is—going out there to Washington and speaking to his counterparts. Will he talk about precisely what he has achieved? [Interruption.] Sorry about that.
Defence Co-operation — House of Commons, 2018-03-05
Topic: Defense
Questions: What recent discussions he has had with his counterpart in the US Administration on strengthening defence co-operation; and if he will make a statement.
Gavin Alexander Williamson (Conservative, Centre-right): I am afraid I not have details of the exchange rates with me, but I will write to the right hon. Gentleman with them. I can tell him that exchange rate changes over the past few years have cost us about a quarter of a billion pounds extra for the defence budget, as a result of the movement of the pound.
Defence Co-operation — House of Commons, 2018-03-05
Topic: Defense
Questions: What recent discussions he has had with his counterpart in the US Administration on strengthening defence co-operation; and if he will make a statement.
Jeremy Mark Quin (Conservative, Centre-right): Will my right hon. Friend inform the House about what discussions he has with his US counterpart, so that we can work together to ensure that our other NATO allies pay the 2% of GDP that they should be paying towards our collective defence?
Defence Co-operation — House of Commons, 2018-03-05
Topic: Defense
Questions: What recent discussions he has had with his counterpart in the US Administration on strengthening defence co-operation; and if he will make a statement.
Gavin Alexander Williamson (Conservative, Centre-right): In this country, I am very proud that we are able to say that we spend 2% of GDP on defence. But we cannot outsource Europe’s defence to the United States: every European country has to play its part in defending Europe. That means spending the money required to defend the borders of western Europe.
Defence Co-operation — House of Commons, 2018-03-05
Topic: Defense
Questions: What recent discussions he has had with his counterpart in the US Administration on strengthening defence co-operation; and if he will make a statement.
Gavin Alexander Williamson (Conservative, Centre-right): We are looking at exactly what resources and everything else we need going forward. We carry considerable contingencies in our equipment plan, and we are very confident that we will be able to deliver everything we need for our armed forces.
Defence Co-operation — House of Commons, 2018-03-05
Topic: Defense
Questions: What recent discussions he has had with his counterpart in the US Administration on strengthening defence co-operation; and if he will make a statement.
Gavin Alexander Williamson (Conservative, Centre-right): I am sure the hon. Gentleman is aware that we are doing the modernising defence programme. He will also be pleased to hear that we will open up our public consultation as part of that programme. We are going to be looking at all we do—how best we can use our armed forces to deliver for the whole United Kingdom, and how to make sure that we are best protected against the threats from abroad. I look forward to the hon. Gentleman’s contribution to that.
Royal Navy: Fleet Size — House of Commons, 2018-03-05
Topic: Defense
Mark Lancaster (Conservative, Centre-right): The Royal Navy is growing for the first time in a generation, with the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers and new submarines, frigates, patrol vessels and aircraft. The Royal Navy continues to meet the demands we place on it and maintains its operational edge.
Royal Navy: Fleet Size — House of Commons, 2018-03-05
Topic: Defense
Mark Lancaster (Conservative, Centre-right): I certainly take this opportunity to underline our thanks to the people of Plymouth for their age-old commitment to and support for the Royal Navy. I absolutely assure the hon. Gentleman that Devonport will continue to be one of the cornerstone bases of the Royal Navy in future. As he will be aware, we only recently allocated the location of the Type 23 frigates. We are doing more work on the location of the Type 26 frigates, and we hope to be able to announce that shortly.
Royal Navy: Fleet Size — House of Commons, 2018-03-05
Topic: Defense
Richard Grosvenor Plunkett-Ernle-Erle-Drax (Conservative, Centre-right): I must declare an interest, Mr Speaker: my grandfather and father both served in the Royal Navy, and both would be turning in their graves at the size of the Royal Navy. Although I quite accept the financial difficulty that the Minister has, does he accept from me that the threats from around the world—not least from China, which is talked about too seldom—are growing? We are sending one ship, I think, across the waters to the south of China. I ask the Minister, please, for an assurance that the Royal Navy’s size and capability will be increased.
Royal Navy: Fleet Size — House of Commons, 2018-03-05
Topic: Defense
Mark Lancaster (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend will be aware of the recent deployment of HMS Sutherland, and there will be further such deployments in future to that part of the world For the first time in a generation, the Royal Navy is actually growing. It grew in manpower last year and will continue to grow over the next couple of years, and not just in manpower—the size of its surface fleet is also growing. The latest of the offshore patrol vessels arrived in Portsmouth only this weekend.
Royal Navy: Fleet Size — House of Commons, 2018-03-05
Topic: Defense
Mark Lancaster (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Gentleman is a champion of his constituency and repeatedly comes to the House to support the work that his constituents have done for generations in building our submarines. I am very confident that shortly he will have the news that he wishes for.
Royal Navy: Fleet Size — House of Commons, 2018-03-05
Topic: Defense
Alexander John Gervase Chalk (Conservative, Centre-right): When HMS Queen Elizabeth puts to sea, it will need a fleet of frigates and destroyers to escort and protect it. Will my right hon. Friend reassure the House that the Royal Navy has sufficient vessels to perform that vital task while protecting our shores at home?
Royal Navy: Fleet Size — House of Commons, 2018-03-05
Topic: Defense
Mark Lancaster (Conservative, Centre-right): Yes, indeed, I can reassure my hon. Friend that the Royal Navy continues to meet all its operational requirements. As I said a few moments ago, the size of our fleet will increase in the years to come.
Royal Navy: Fleet Size — House of Commons, 2018-03-05
Topic: Defense
Mark Lancaster (Conservative, Centre-right): It is a little bit rich when the hon. Gentleman comes to the Dispatch Box to criticise this Government over supposed black holes in defence spending, given the previous Labour Government’s record in this area, but I am sure the Defence Procurement Minister, my hon. Friend the Member for Aberconwy (Guto Bebb), will write to him to explain why that is the case.
Defence Suppliers: Innovation — House of Commons, 2018-03-05
Topic: Defense
Guto ap Owain Bebb (Conservative, Centre-right): With an equipment plan worth £180 billion over 10 years, a rising defence budget and an £800 million innovation fund, there are great opportunities for innovative suppliers to work with the Ministry of Defence. The Department recently took part in a Pitch@Palace event, reaching out to defence sector entrepreneurs, and the open call for innovation has been changed to increase opportunities to work with the Government.
Defence Suppliers: Innovation — House of Commons, 2018-03-05
Topic: Defense
Margaret Ann Throup (Conservative, Centre-right): Baltex, which is based in my constituency, is a leading supplier of high-performance fabrics, meshes and nets that are designed to keep our service personnel safe and well-protected in the field. What is my hon. Friend doing to support businesses in the defence supply chain that manufacture technical textiles, and will he and the Secretary of State consider visiting Baltex to see the innovative work that is being carried out in Erewash in support of our armed forces?
Defence Suppliers: Innovation — House of Commons, 2018-03-05
Topic: Defense
Guto ap Owain Bebb (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank my hon. Friend for her question. Indeed, I would like to take her up on her kind offer of a visit to Baltex, which is an important provider of services to the Ministry of Defence. It is a classic example of a company that is generating key supplies for the Ministry of Defence and for our armed services, and it is being innovative in the way that it does that. Indeed, we see that innovation across the board with Ministry of Defence contractors—they are innovative for the UK economy in addition to supplying our armed forces.
Defence Suppliers: Innovation — House of Commons, 2018-03-05
Topic: Defense
Luke Anthony Hall (Conservative, Centre-right): Does the Minister agree that the launch of the RAF’s first satellite, Carbonite-2, using British technology, is to be welcomed, and can he update the House on whether space technology will be part of the combat air strategy?
Defence Suppliers: Innovation — House of Commons, 2018-03-05
Topic: Defense
Guto ap Owain Bebb (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank my hon. Friend for that question. I am very disappointed not to have been able to visit Surrey Satellite Technology, which developed that facility. Unfortunately, my visit did not take place last Thursday owing to the weather This is a significant development. From my perspective, it is an example of innovative thinking being developed by the MOD and the Air Force. Even more importantly, it was a concept only 10 months ago and it has now been procured. Obviously, as part of our combat air strategy, the way in which we interlink with satellite technology will be a key consideration for the Ministry of Defence.
Defence Suppliers: Innovation — House of Commons, 2018-03-05
Topic: Defense
Victoria Grace Ford (Conservative, Centre-right): The Minister’s predecessor recently paid a very welcome visit to BAE in Chelmsford, which has played a critical role in developing Britain’s radar capacity through the generations. Does the Minister agree that, when it comes to the next generation of ballistic missile defence radar, it is vital to maintain British capacity and make sure that these skills stay in Britain?
Defence Suppliers: Innovation — House of Commons, 2018-03-05
Topic: Defense
Guto ap Owain Bebb (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank my hon. Friend for her question and pay tribute to BAE for the work that is being done in her constituency. She is absolutely right to highlight the importance of keeping skills in the United Kingdom. Members from all parts of the House should be proud that the Ministry of Defence is responsible for more than 20,000 apprenticeship opportunities throughout the United Kingdom, as it highlights again that Ministry of Defence procurement leads to high-quality, skilled jobs in all parts of the UK, including Chelmsford.