argyrotsipi/train-dataset huggingface dataset:
EU Referendum — House of Commons, 2016-04-12
Topic: International Affairs
Questions: What assessment he has made of the effect of the EU referendum on UK trade with countries with which the EU has a free trade agreement.
John Charles Baron (Conservative, Centre-right): In answer to the Minister’s question, our vision of the UK outside the EU is very simply that we would be like most other free trading nations around the world: trading as we see fit. I suggest the Government are playing with fire, because the more they wade in in favour of remaining during this referendum debate, the more the referendum will be seen as being unfair, and that could create further uncertainty, particularly if the vote is narrowly for staying.
EU Referendum — House of Commons, 2016-04-12
Topic: International Affairs
Questions: What assessment he has made of the effect of the EU referendum on UK trade with countries with which the EU has a free trade agreement.
David Roy Lidington (Conservative, Centre-right): The Government are not going to be silent or neutral on an issue that we believe is central to the future prosperity and security of the United Kingdom. I am glad that my hon. Friend seems to believe, on leaving, we should continue to be part of the European single market, but he is yet to say how that would involve not having to accept freedom of movement, agreement to all European rules although we would have no say or vote on them, and contributing to the EU budget. That is the situation Norway and Switzerland are in today.
EU Referendum — House of Commons, 2016-04-12
Topic: Foreign Trade
Questions: What assessment he has made of the effect of the EU referendum on UK trade with countries with which the EU has a free trade agreement.
Neil Carmichael (Conservative, Centre-right): The key point here is of course that we have a free trade agreement with the European Union, as we have with other nation states. There is a question that has to be answered: why are so many of the states that have said we should stay in the EU the ones that the other side seem to think we can have some sort of agreement with?
EU Referendum — House of Commons, 2016-04-12
Topic: International Affairs
Questions: What assessment he has made of the effect of the EU referendum on UK trade with countries with which the EU has a free trade agreement.
David Roy Lidington (Conservative, Centre-right): The consistent message that we hear from friends, allies and partners, not just in Europe, but in the Commonwealth and around the world, is that they want to see us stay in the EU. I am still waiting for the advocates of quitting to come up with an example of a friendly international leader who supports their case.
EU Referendum — House of Commons, 2016-04-12
Topic: Foreign Trade
Questions: What assessment he has made of the effect of the EU referendum on UK trade with countries with which the EU has a free trade agreement.
David Roy Lidington (Conservative, Centre-right): That is indeed the case. If we were outside the single market, and World Trade Organisation rules applied, we could expect that 10% tariff on every car exported to the rest of Europe from the United Kingdom, which is why exit would be such a bad deal.
Honour-based Violence — House of Commons, 2016-04-12
Topic: International Affairs
Tobias Martin Ellwood (Conservative, Centre-right): Tackling violence against women and girls—including so-called honour killings—and the promotion of women’s rights remain central to UK foreign policy objectives. We work closely with the most affected countries, including with the Governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Honour-based Violence — House of Commons, 2016-04-12
Topic: Law and Crime
James Jacob Gilchrist Berry (Conservative, Centre-right): I support the work that the UK Government have done with the Government of Cameroon in tackling the abhorrent practice of breast ironing. Does the Minister agree that unless we seek to find ways for these so-called honour-based crimes to be prosecuted in their country of origin, we will struggle to pursue prosecutions here in the United Kingdom?
Middle East — House of Commons, 2016-04-12
Topic: International Affairs
Tobias Martin Ellwood (Conservative, Centre-right): I visited Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories in February and I remain clear that a two-state solution is the only credible way to resolve the conflict. We continue to work closely with international partners to preserve the viability of the two-state solution and to encourage a return to meaningful negotiation.
Middle East — House of Commons, 2016-04-12
Topic: International Affairs
David Mowat (Conservative, Centre-right): In 2016, there has been an acceleration of evictions and property destruction on the west bank. By these continuing actions, the Israeli Government are showing complete contempt for the notion of a two-state solution—a fact recognised by President Carter. When will the Government update UK policy to reflect reality on the ground in this area?
Middle East — House of Commons, 2016-04-12
Topic: International Affairs
Tobias Martin Ellwood (Conservative, Centre-right): During my meetings with the Deputy Foreign Minister and indeed with the Prime Minister, I found that they remained committed to the two-state solution, but my hon. Friend is right to recognise that measures are being taken and events are taking place that seem to take us in another direction. We need to ensure that people are able to come back to the table, and that we are able to make progress. There is no other solution to this. We cannot continue with the status quo.
Middle East — House of Commons, 2016-04-12
Topic: International Affairs
Tobias Martin Ellwood (Conservative, Centre-right): Again, the hon. Lady highlights the challenges that the region faces. We need to ensure that we work with the international coalitions to prevent such events from taking place. Iran is starting to take incremental steps towards greater responsibility in the region. Unless it is able to control Hezbollah and have an influence, we will see that this nuclear deal will mean little.
Middle East — House of Commons, 2016-04-12
Topic: International Affairs
Eric Pickles (Conservative, Centre-right): There have recently been two initiatives in the region: the extension of fishing rights for Gazan fisherman with Israeli co-operation, and the naming of a basketball tournament after a terrorist who killed 36 people, including 12 children. Which of those two initiatives does the Minister think is more likely to bring about a two-state solution?
Middle East — House of Commons, 2016-04-12
Topic: International Affairs
Tobias Martin Ellwood (Conservative, Centre-right): My right hon. Friend highlights the dilemma that we face. We need grassroots initiatives on a low level such as extension of fishing rights, for which I have pressed for some time. Oil and gas reserves can be tapped into off Gaza, which will also help the economy. At the same time, basketball courts and, indeed, schools and streets are being named after terrorists, which does not suggest that the Palestinians are as serious as they should be.
Middle East — House of Commons, 2016-04-12
Topic: International Affairs
Tobias Martin Ellwood (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Gentleman highlights a challenge that we face. Britain has been working closely with Israel to change the approach that Israelis have taken on administrative detention. We have also funded and facilitated independent reports on the challenges that we face, and I raised this matter with the Deputy Foreign Minister, Tzipi Hotovely. I will continue to press Israel to move forward. Again, this takes us back —it is a retrograde step.
Chagos Islands — House of Commons, 2016-04-12
Topic: International Affairs
James Philip Duddridge (Conservative, Centre-right): This is much more familiar territory for me Officials met over 500 Chagossians in their communities in the UK, Mauritius and the Seychelles. The public consultation we published in January received over 800 responses. I recognise that Chagossians have urged us to announce a decision soon, and we very much hope to do so.
Chagos Islands — House of Commons, 2016-04-12
Topic: International Affairs
Tania Mathias (Conservative, Centre-right): Does the Minister agree that the £60 million estimate for the resettlement of the Chagos islanders, at 0.002% of the international development budget, is a price that the Government must pay this year so that the Chagos islanders can return home? Every day they are not allowed to do so is a day of shame for this country.
Refugees: Middle East — House of Commons, 2016-04-12
Topic: International Affairs
Questions: What recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in the EU, Africa and the middle east on steps to tackle the refugee crisis in the middle east.; What is the Minister’s current assessment of political progress in Tunisia, and what are the British Government doing to support the progress there? I do not mind if the Minister with responsibility for the middle east answers
David Roy Lidington (Conservative, Centre-right): We continue to support the democratic evolution of Tunisia, and we are working actively to support the Tunisian authorities to ensure that they have control over their borders so that there can be checks against the risks of terrorists moving across borders and in order to disrupt the work of people smugglers.
Refugees: Middle East — House of Commons, 2016-04-12
Topic: International Affairs
Questions: What recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in the EU, Africa and the middle east on steps to tackle the refugee crisis in the middle east.; What is the Minister’s current assessment of political progress in Tunisia, and what are the British Government doing to support the progress there? I do not mind if the Minister with responsibility for the middle east answers
David Roy Lidington (Conservative, Centre-right): It is a very serious threat indeed. That is why we give such a high priority to international work to establish a proper system of government in Libya and very much welcome the work that has led to the creation of the Government of national accord. We are working actively with European and wider international partners to ensure that that new Government get the support that they need.
EU Referendum — House of Commons, 2016-04-12
Topic: International Affairs
Questions: What discussions his Department has had with the Department for Work and Pensions on the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU on employment.
David Roy Lidington (Conservative, Centre-right): The Government’s view is that the UK will be stronger, safer and better off remaining in a reformed EU. More British people are in work than ever before, and nine out of 10 people in work in this country are UK nationals.
EU Referendum — House of Commons, 2016-04-12
Topic: International Affairs
Questions: What discussions his Department has had with the Department for Work and Pensions on the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU on employment.
David Roy Lidington (Conservative, Centre-right): The Prime Minister agreed with the Liaison Committee that he should make three appearances during 2016. The next one is scheduled to take place before the summer recess. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has also been at this Dispatch Box on many occasions to answer questions about European policy, and my hon. Friend the Member for Wycombe (Mr Baker) has taken ample advantage of the opportunity provided by those events.
EU Referendum — House of Commons, 2016-04-12
Topic: International Affairs
Questions: What discussions his Department has had with the Department for Work and Pensions on the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU on employment.
David Roy Lidington (Conservative, Centre-right): It is the case that British pensioners and other expatriate UK citizens who are resident in other EU member states get certain rights and benefits as a consequence of our EU membership. We cannot guarantee that in the event of a British withdrawal, the negotiations on exit would lead to those rights and benefits being retained.
EU Referendum — House of Commons, 2016-04-12
Topic: International Affairs
Questions: What discussions his Department has had with the Department for Work and Pensions on the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU on employment.
James Gerald Douglas Howarth (Conservative, Centre-right): In the Minister’s publicly funded glossy brochure—I have a copy here—which claims to set out the facts, the Government state: "Our EU membership magnifies the UK’s ability to get its way on the issues we care about." Will my right hon. Friend explain how that squares with the fact that the UK has been outvoted every time it has voted against an EU measure—72 times in total, and 40 of those defeats under this Government?
EU Referendum — House of Commons, 2016-04-12
Topic: Foreign Trade
Questions: What discussions his Department has had with the Department for Work and Pensions on the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU on employment.
David Nuttall (Conservative, Centre-right): Given that after 40 years the European Union has still not managed to negotiate a trade deal with the United States of America, surely if we left and regained control of settling our own trade deals, we would be able to make trade deals much faster than the EU.
EU Referendum — House of Commons, 2016-04-12
Topic: Foreign Trade
Questions: What discussions his Department has had with the Department for Work and Pensions on the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU on employment.
David Roy Lidington (Conservative, Centre-right): I am glad to hear that my hon. Friend speaks for that faction of the Brexit camp that supports the transatlantic free trade agreement, because not everybody on his side of the argument does. The United States, through its chief negotiator and the head of its chamber of commerce, has made it clear that it is interested in a deal with 500 million people, the biggest market in the world, but not terribly interested in giving priority to a deal with a country of just 65 million people.
Yemen — House of Commons, 2016-04-12
Topic: International Affairs
Tobias Martin Ellwood (Conservative, Centre-right): I join the hon. Lady in welcoming the cessation of hostilities. The peace talks will begin on 18 April in Kuwait. A number of organisations have been created, including the Yemeni national independent commission of inquiry, which is the appropriate body to look into human rights issues in Yemen. The Saudis have themselves organised their own investigative committee in order to analyse and put their hands up when mistakes were made.
Yemen — House of Commons, 2016-04-12
Topic: International Affairs
Edward John Comport Argar (Conservative, Centre-right): I commend the Minister for his tireless work in seeking an end to the horrendous conflict in Yemen. What steps are the Government taking to support the UN-sponsored peace talks in Kuwait in little under a week’s time?
Yemen — House of Commons, 2016-04-12
Topic: International Affairs
Tobias Martin Ellwood (Conservative, Centre-right): We have participated fully in bringing together what has been a very complex situation. Often people simply try to knuckle it down to one, two or three sides, but al-Qaeda is in Yemen, as is Daesh. There are not only the Houthis and other groupings, but many militias that are looking at which way the winds will blow. I have spoken on a number of occasions to President Hadi, and indeed to Ismail Ahmed, the UN envoy, to encourage the ceasefire. I hope that we will see real progress when the talks commence in Kuwait on 18 April.
Yemen — House of Commons, 2016-04-12
Topic: International Affairs
Tobias Martin Ellwood (Conservative, Centre-right): I cannot confirm at this moment whether I will be attending, but the right hon. Gentleman is right to outline the breaches, which are taking place not only in Taiz, but elsewhere, including east of Aden, where 15 Yemeni soldiers were killed, and not by the Houthis or any other militia, but by al-Qaeda. It is important that we ensure that the talks work and that the international community supports them fully.
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2016-04-12
Topic: International Affairs
David Roy Lidington (Conservative, Centre-right): My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary is currently in Vietnam holding meetings with Vietnamese Ministers about trade and political relations. This follows visits to China, where among other things he pressed the Chinese authorities for action to bring greater stability to world steel markets, and to Japan, where he represented the United Kingdom at a meeting of G7 Foreign Ministers.
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2016-04-12
Topic: Foreign Trade
Richard Michael John Ogilvie Graham (Conservative, Centre-right): In the wake of the recent visit by Premier Modi to the UK and the current visit by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to India, can my right hon. Friend highlight the trade and investment benefits to both countries from these important high-level exchanges?
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2016-04-12
Topic: International Affairs
Hugo Swire (Conservative, Centre-right): Indeed I can. My hon. Friend is right to draw attention to the current visit by Their Royal Highnesses, which is going extremely well. We have incredibly good bilateral relations with India, and the visit here by Mr Modi was a great success. My hon. Friend is absolutely right to point to the soft power we have in our diplomatic armoury, from the BBC, to the British Council, the GREAT campaign, the Newton Fund and the Chevening and Marshall scholarship programmes. All those are part of the jigsaw that helps us to do business and to project British values right around the world.
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2016-04-12
Topic: Law and Crime
James Philip Duddridge (Conservative, Centre-right): It is disappointing that the shadow Secretary of State does not congratulate the overseas territories on the enormous progress they have made on tax transparency and on opening up for law enforcement agencies. This is really superb progress, but as the Prime Minister outlined yesterday, it is not an international standard, and we need to move towards eliminating all corrupt, terrorist and money laundering practices across the globe. While there are states in the US where people can open companies and not have full public registers, it is only fair to say to the overseas territories, "Congratulations on progress so far." Longer term, the Prime Minister and the Government are clear that we want greater transparency, and that will be about a move towards public access.
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2016-04-12
Topic: Law and Crime
David Roy Lidington (Conservative, Centre-right): I agree with the right hon. Gentleman that there are many ways in which we benefit, in taking action against crime, through this kind of European co-operation. What I hear from the police service is that almost all serious crime these days has an international dimension of some kind, and countries need to work together to tackle that. The current system, where we can choose whether to opt in to individual justice and home affairs measures, really does give us the best of both worlds.
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2016-04-12
Topic: Law and Crime
Tobias Martin Ellwood (Conservative, Centre-right): The Koran actually forbids suicide, and if we look at the profile of suicide bombers from Sousse to Bali, we will see that martyrdom is sold by extremists as a fast track to paradise to people who have scant knowledge of the Koran. They are promised a ticket to heaven with little, if any, service to God. If we are genuinely to defeat extremism and stem the tide of vulnerable recruits, greater emphasis needs to be placed on duty to God in this life as well as the next.
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2016-04-12
Topic: International Affairs
Questions: The Minister will be aware of reports that Libya paid $1.5 billion into the US compensation fund for relatives of victims of terror blamed on Libya. Why have the UK victims of IRA terrorism that used Libyan Semtex not received similar support? The Minister recently indicated that he would support those victims of IRA terrorists who used Semtex. What is he doing and what support is in place for them?
Tobias Martin Ellwood (Conservative, Centre-right): It is for a previous Government to explain why that opportunity was missed when the United States advanced discussions in that area. What I have done, in meetings both in Belfast and here in London with those victims of terrorism that involved Semtex or, indeed, that was supported by Gaddafi, is facilitate a visit to Tripoli when the security measures allow it.
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2016-04-12
Topic: International Affairs
Questions: The Minister will be aware of reports that Libya paid $1.5 billion into the US compensation fund for relatives of victims of terror blamed on Libya. Why have the UK victims of IRA terrorism that used Libyan Semtex not received similar support? The Minister recently indicated that he would support those victims of IRA terrorists who used Semtex. What is he doing and what support is in place for them?; Could a Minister update the House on the support we have given to the Government of the Ivory Coast following the terrorist attack in Grand Bassam in March?
James Philip Duddridge (Conservative, Centre-right): Last week I visited the scene of the attack in Grand Bassam in Côte d’Ivoire, which killed 19 people and injured more than 20, and laid a wreath on behalf of Her Majesty’s Government. Furthermore, I met President Ouattara and discussed how the UK can support efforts to prevent the radicalisation of young people in his country. We all offer our condolences, support and, indeed, solidarity.
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2016-04-12
Topic: International Affairs
Questions: The Minister will be aware of reports that Libya paid $1.5 billion into the US compensation fund for relatives of victims of terror blamed on Libya. Why have the UK victims of IRA terrorism that used Libyan Semtex not received similar support? The Minister recently indicated that he would support those victims of IRA terrorists who used Semtex. What is he doing and what support is in place for them?; Could a Minister update the House on the support we have given to the Government of the Ivory Coast following the terrorist attack in Grand Bassam in March?; Developing countries lose three times as much to tax havens as they gain in international aid. Although yesterday’s announcement was a welcome, partial step in addressing that, registers of beneficial ownership will be ineffective unless they are public. Does the Minister agree that the Prime Minister’s anti-corruption summit next month would be an appropriate deadline to insist that all of the UK’s overseas territories and Crown dependencies adopt public registers of beneficial ownership?
James Philip Duddridge (Conservative, Centre-right): First, we should congratulate the Prime Minister. This is the first international conference on anti-corruption. We have already made great progress on beneficial ownership, but it is not the only issue of corruption. Having visited Ghana last week, I know that many other issues need to be tackled. Although beneficial ownership is an important issue, it is not the only issue for that corruption conference.