argyrotsipi/train-dataset huggingface dataset:
Easter Recess: Government Update — House of Commons, 2022-04-19
Topic: International Affairs
Natalie Cecilia Elphicke (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank the Prime Minister for his fulsome apology today. Given that, does he agree that the priority for the House and the Government must be the very real challenges facing our country, particularly the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the cost of living pressures caused by covid and worsened by Russia’s war on Ukraine? Coming from Poland, having helped with Ukrainian child refugees last week, I pass on, if I may, the widespread respect and admiration in which his leadership on Ukraine is held.
Easter Recess: Government Update — House of Commons, 2022-04-19
Topic: International Affairs
Paul Howell (Conservative, Centre-right): My constituents in Sedgefield have expressed their satisfaction at how we are helping the people of Ukraine, but also their frustration and anger at events in No. 10. They also believe that one is not linked to the other. The Prime Minister’s contrition over his error is welcome, and I thank him for it. While it was a clear error of judgment, I certainly do not believe it is a resigning matter. If it was, then, regardless of Ukraine, it still would be. I, like many, have missed the funeral of a close friend, but I would still have missed that funeral regardless of the PM’s error, because the rules were correct and his error does not change that. As regards Ukraine, though, may I encourage him to please continue his efforts with full vigour?
Easter Recess: Government Update — House of Commons, 2022-04-19
Topic: International Affairs
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank my hon. Friend very much. I understand the frustration and anger of his constituents in Sedgefield. I understand perfectly how they feel; I renew my apologies to them, and I also share what he has to say about Ukraine.
Easter Recess: Government Update — House of Commons, 2022-04-19
Topic: International Affairs
Robert Butler (Conservative, Centre-right): The deputy head of the Ukrainian President’s office has said that the UK is the leader in defence support for Ukraine, the leader in the anti-war coalition and the leader in sanctions against the Russian aggressor. With Russia’s offensive in the Donbas beginning the next stage of Putin’s appalling invasion, can my right hon. Friend assure me that the UK will remain the leader of international efforts to support Ukraine, including by persuading all our friends and allies of the need to stand up to Putin’s outrageous actions?
Easter Recess: Government Update — House of Commons, 2022-04-19
Topic: Energy
Jacob Young (Conservative, Centre-right): May I welcome the Prime Minister’s renewed focus on nuclear energy and its power to transform our energy independence? Does he also recognise that we need not just energy independence, but independence in our foundation industries such as chemicals and steel?
Easter Recess: Government Update — House of Commons, 2022-04-19
Topic: Energy
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): Yes, indeed. Can I congratulate my hon. Friend on his recent marriage, by the way? We certainly see nuclear energy as of vital importance, as well of course as investing in our new technologies, which is why we are putting record investments into R&D—£22 billion.
Easter Recess: Government Update — House of Commons, 2022-04-19
Topic: Macroeconomics
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): May I respectfully say to the hon. Member that I think the real choice that this Government —this House of Commons—should follow is getting on with the job of serving the people we were elected to serve and helping them with the costs of living? That is what we are doing.
Easter Recess: Government Update — House of Commons, 2022-04-19
Topic: International Affairs
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): The answer to that question is staring the hon. Member in the face, if he looks at what is happening around the world. The UK is providing moral, political and diplomatic leadership as well as military support, and that is what we will continue to do.
Easter Recess: Government Update — House of Commons, 2022-04-19
Topic: Macroeconomics
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank the hon. Member very much, and I understand completely people’s feelings about covid, what they did and the failings in No. 10, but I think that the job of the Government is to get on and deliver for those very people now facing the cost of living crisis that she describes, and that is what we are going to do.
Easter Recess: Government Update — House of Commons, 2022-04-19
Topic: Macroeconomics
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): The most important thing is that we focus on the priorities of the people of this country—in Scotland and around the country—and tackle the aftershocks of covid, the effects of the war in Ukraine and the impact on inflation, and that is what we are doing.
Easter Recess: Government Update — House of Commons, 2022-04-19
Topic: International Affairs
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): I think the best future for the people of Scotland is to continue with the United Kingdom that has served this country well for hundreds of years and whose role is valued around the world, perhaps never more than in the last few months.
Energy Security Strategy — House of Commons, 2022-04-19
Topic: Energy
Kwasi Alfred Addo Kwarteng (Conservative, Centre-right): I am pleased, in this Easter season, when Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, that the right hon. Gentleman is back in his place. I thought that he had disappeared for a bit, but it is very good to see him again spinning out the same lines Let me deal with some of his accusations. There is plenty about onshore wind in the strategy. The one thing that we say about onshore wind—unlike the right hon. Gentleman’s position—is that it has to be pursued in the context of local community support. We have always had that position and have not moved away from it. People also say, "What about the energy efficiency measures?" He will remember that we had a whole document at the end of last year devoted to energy efficiency—it was called the heat and buildings strategy. He and the hon. Member for Southampton, Test (Dr Whitehead) kept asking month after month, "When will the heat and buildings strategy come out?" It did come out and it addressed precisely the energy efficiency issues that he wished it to On nuclear—this is the last thing I will say about the remarks from the right hon. Member for Doncaster North (Edward Miliband)—his attempt to pretend that the last Labour Government somehow made us more secure on nuclear is laughable. That did not happen. They were notorious for doing nothing to promote the nuclear industry. They were rather like our Scottish National party friends, who are at least honest about their position—they do not want nuclear. I am still not sure what he believes about nuclear, but we are driving forward nuclear and we are delighted to make it the centrepoint of our strategy.
Energy Security Strategy — House of Commons, 2022-04-19
Topic: Energy
Mark Ian Jenkinson (Conservative, Centre-right): My right hon. Friend is right to point out that the Labour party destroyed Britain’s nuclear industry by failing to build new nuclear projects while in office. Labour is famous for selling off the family gold, but it also sold off cupboards full of silverware, including the UK Atomic Energy Authority Ltd, a very profitable nuclear company. Will my right hon. Friend update us on our new nuclear company, Great British Nuclear, its remit for new nuclear power stations and what that might mean for Moorside in Cumbria?
Energy Security Strategy — House of Commons, 2022-04-19
Topic: Energy
Kwasi Alfred Addo Kwarteng (Conservative, Centre-right): The development vehicle that we have announced in the strategy will inaugurate a new era for the nuclear industry. If hon. Members speak to anybody in the industry, they will hear people say that no Government in the past 25 years have been so positive and enthusiastic about nuclear power. There will be a great future and that represents a great endorsement for the skills and the industry that my hon. Friend has so ably promoted in the House.
Energy Security Strategy — House of Commons, 2022-04-19
Topic: Energy
Kwasi Alfred Addo Kwarteng (Conservative, Centre-right): I am very grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his barrage of questions; I will try to answer a few of them. His position on nuclear and mine could not be more different, and I am very glad that he is honest and frank about nuclear. I still do not understand what his answer is on decarbonised baseload, in terms of security of supply, but I am grateful for his honesty. He will know that the transmission charges are a matter for Ofgem, and I would be very happy to speak to him and Ofgem about how we can move forward on that.
Energy Security Strategy — House of Commons, 2022-04-19
Topic: Energy
Andrea Jacqueline Leadsom (Conservative, Centre-right): My right hon. Friend is aware that the Back-Bench committee on business, energy and industrial strategy has done a very swift and urgent inquiry into how businesses and households can reduce their energy bills this winter. Will he and the Minister for Energy, Clean Growth and Climate Change meet me and my vice-chairs to discuss some of the very sensible and practical measures in the inquiry?
Energy Security Strategy — House of Commons, 2022-04-19
Topic: Energy
Kwasi Alfred Addo Kwarteng (Conservative, Centre-right): Absolutely. I always want to take the opportunity to commend the great work that my right hon. Friend did when she headed the Department, when I was Energy Minister. We are really continuing in that vein. The Minister for Energy, Clean Growth and Climate Change and I will be delighted to meet her and her committee to discuss ideas that will give us security, affordability and sustainability.
Energy Security Strategy — House of Commons, 2022-04-19
Topic: Macroeconomics
Kwasi Alfred Addo Kwarteng (Conservative, Centre-right): As I said in my statement, we are fully aware of the pressure on people’s household bills: it is a really, really extreme issue and we want to deal with it. I also said that my right hon. Friend the Chancellor will look at the matter again in October and see whether measures are appropriate. The hon. Lady will know that the price cap is set in August, so there is still a long period before we can work out what it is. It is a matter for Ofgem, and we are waiting to see what level it is set at in August.
Energy Security Strategy — House of Commons, 2022-04-19
Topic: Energy
John Henry Hayes (Conservative, Centre-right): I refer hon. Members to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. The commitment to solar is vital, but does the Secretary of State recognise that food security is as important as energy security? Every building, every warehouse and every commercial enterprise should be covered in solar before a single acre of valuable arable land is consumed by solar farms.
Energy Security Strategy — House of Commons, 2022-04-19
Topic: Energy
Kwasi Alfred Addo Kwarteng (Conservative, Centre-right): I would be very interested to hear my right hon. Friend’s views on solar. I think solar is crucial. I am delighted that we have so many former Energy Ministers in the Chamber today; my right hon. Friend was a very distinguished holder of the post, and I am very pleased to engage with him on this important subject.
Energy Security Strategy — House of Commons, 2022-04-19
Topic: Energy
Kwasi Alfred Addo Kwarteng (Conservative, Centre-right): We have a number of such schemes in existence and have trialled a number of others. We are always iterating the way in which we attract private capital to meet net zero; that is what we have been doing for the past three years, since net zero was passed into legislation.
Energy Security Strategy — House of Commons, 2022-04-19
Topic: Energy
Kwasi Alfred Addo Kwarteng (Conservative, Centre-right): I have been very clear. The hon. Lady is right to mention 2019: in October 2019 I was responsible—as was my right hon. Friend the Member for South Northamptonshire (Dame Andrea Leadsom), who was Secretary of State at the time—for announcing the moratorium. The facts about the wholesale price have changed: it is 10 times higher than at the end of 2019. I think that it is perfectly right to look at the resources that we have in our country to see whether we can use gas here for greater energy security.
Energy Security Strategy — House of Commons, 2022-04-19
Topic: Energy
Philip Martin Dunne (Conservative, Centre-right): May I build on the excellent question from my right hon. Friend the Member for South Holland and The Deepings (Sir John Hayes), with which I agree? The Secretary of State has included in his medium and long-term strategy the ambition to raise solar power from 14 GW to 70 GW, which would obviously make an enormous contribution to renewable energy generation. Will he follow up the excellent work that he undertook with the Treasury to remove VAT on solar panel installation and also press for VAT to be removed from electricity storage for battery walls and similar products in domestic homes?
Energy Security Strategy — House of Commons, 2022-04-19
Topic: Energy
Kwasi Alfred Addo Kwarteng (Conservative, Centre-right): My right hon. Friend will appreciate that tax issues specifically are not in my portfolio, but I speak to the Chancellor of the Exchequer all the time about how we can incentivise investment in new, exciting green technologies. That is something that we are very pleased to do.
Energy Security Strategy — House of Commons, 2022-04-19
Topic: Energy
Miriam Joy Cates (Conservative, Centre-right): I very much welcome the commitment to rebuilding Britain’s nuclear industry. It is great news for consumers and it should be great news for the UK steel industry, particularly Speciality Steel in Stocksbridge in my constituency, which specialises in producing the kind of high-value steel required for such projects. I know that my right hon. Friend has welcomed Sizewell C’s decision to sign the UK steel charter. Can he confirm that that means it must commit to purchasing steel made and poured in the UK?
Energy Security Strategy — House of Commons, 2022-04-19
Topic: Energy
Kwasi Alfred Addo Kwarteng (Conservative, Centre-right): I cannot make any commitments on behalf of the company, because it is at arm’s length and has its own corporate structure, as my hon. Friend will know. However, as Secretary of State I have always championed the steel industry, which is vital for national security and for levelling up. It is a hugely important industry and I am very happy to work with her to promote it.
Energy Security Strategy — House of Commons, 2022-04-19
Topic: Energy
Kwasi Alfred Addo Kwarteng (Conservative, Centre-right): We have done more than many in driving onshore wind. The hon. Lady will know that we suspended the pot 1 auction and have brought it back, that we have more onshore wind than pretty much any other country in northern Europe, and that we continue aggressively and passionately to promote onshore wind.
Energy Security Strategy — House of Commons, 2022-04-19
Topic: Energy
Mark Julian Francis Pawsey (Conservative, Centre-right): The retail energy market saw the big six suppliers increase to 90. Several were granted licences despite being undercapitalised, which caused them to fail and placed a burden on all consumers. We know that competition in the market is vital; what steps will the Secretary of State will be taking to make it effective?
Energy Security Strategy — House of Commons, 2022-04-19
Topic: Energy
Kwasi Alfred Addo Kwarteng (Conservative, Centre-right): In partnership with Ofgem, we have discussed trying to secure a much more resilient energy retail market, with financial covenants involving much more financial discipline and financial disclosure, as well as other ways in which we can ensure that what happened last winter does not happen again.
Energy Security Strategy — House of Commons, 2022-04-19
Topic: Energy
Kwasi Alfred Addo Kwarteng (Conservative, Centre-right): I think it was Keith Anderson who spoke to the Committee this morning. I speak to Keith and others in the sector all the time, as does the Minister for Energy, Clean Growth and Climate Change, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chelsea and Fulham (Greg Hands). We will definitely look into this issue, because it seems disproportionate and unfair that people with prepayment meters should be paying so much more than those with direct debits, and we shall be happy to take it up with the leaders in the sector.
Energy Security Strategy — House of Commons, 2022-04-19
Topic: Energy
John Flasby Lawrance Whittingdale (Conservative, Centre-right): I welcome my right hon. Friend’s commitment to a new generation of nuclear power stations. Can he confirm that the eight designated sites remain the Government’s preferred locations for those, including Bradwell in my constituency, and has he yet reached a view on whether a Chinese-designed reactor could be included?
Energy Security Strategy — House of Commons, 2022-04-19
Topic: Energy
Kwasi Alfred Addo Kwarteng (Conservative, Centre-right): As my right hon. Friend will know, Bradwell passed the generic design assessment. That was an arm’s-length process in which the Government did not become involved. There is clearly a discussion to be had about how we can take Bradwell forward, but, as my right hon. Friend knows, there is an absolute commitment to up to eight sites. I am not saying eight, because obviously we have small modular reactors as well, but eight sites would mean roughly 24 GW.
Energy Security Strategy — House of Commons, 2022-04-19
Topic: Environment
Kwasi Alfred Addo Kwarteng (Conservative, Centre-right): I know that Bristol has a strong tradition of green, carbon-reducing policies. I should be happy to visit the city and see the great work that is being done there. It is a part of the world that I know well from Airbus and other great industrial concerns.
Energy Security Strategy — House of Commons, 2022-04-19
Topic: Energy
John David Penrose (Conservative, Centre-right): I congratulate the Secretary of State on this excellent document. May I press him on the review of energy market arrangements and the long-term fundamental reform of the underlying market? Will he reassure me, and others on this side of the House—at the very least—that that will be done in a spirit that will maximise competition and consumer choice to ensure that we make the customer the king and the queen, and that it will include price cap reform?
Energy Security Strategy — House of Commons, 2022-04-19
Topic: Energy
Kwasi Alfred Addo Kwarteng (Conservative, Centre-right): All these issues are being looked at. The six-month periods for the price cap are being reviewed, and, as I have said, financial resilience for new entrants will be considered. A subject that has not been mentioned so far is the future system operator and the electricity system operator. That is a remarkable innovation, and I am proud that it is included in the document. I should be happy to talk to my hon. Friend about these matters.
Energy Security Strategy — House of Commons, 2022-04-19
Topic: Energy
Kwasi Alfred Addo Kwarteng (Conservative, Centre-right): As the right hon. Gentleman will know, in the time during which I—indeed, I suspect, both of us—have been in the House, renewables have really taken off. They are the one bit of the energy story here in the UK that has been genuinely transformative and a world leader, and I am very proud of that. As for the immediate support for hard-pressed consumers facing a global price hike, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor committed £9 million to help people to pay their bills.
Energy Security Strategy — House of Commons, 2022-04-19
Topic: Energy
Kwasi Alfred Addo Kwarteng (Conservative, Centre-right): I had a feeling that my hon. Friend was going to mention Loughborough. She will know that we are absolutely committed to hydrogen. It has many uses: it can be used, potentially, in the gas grid, in transport—to which she alluded—and in industrial processes. We are very excited about the opportunities, outlined in the strategy, for more capacity so that we can drive innovation in those areas.
Energy Security Strategy — House of Commons, 2022-04-19
Topic: Energy
Kwasi Alfred Addo Kwarteng (Conservative, Centre-right): There has been an issue with the wholesale gas price, which has gone up about 10 times during that period. It seems entirely reasonable, if we have gas underneath our feet, to consider the possibility of using it.
Energy Security Strategy — House of Commons, 2022-04-19
Topic: Energy
David Thomas Morris (Conservative, Centre-right): Would my right hon. Friend like to come to Heysham and look at the two reactors that are working in my constituency? The whole community is behind the nuclear power industry, and it is our future, so I extend that invitation to my right hon. Friend.
Energy Security Strategy — House of Commons, 2022-04-19
Topic: Energy
Kwasi Alfred Addo Kwarteng (Conservative, Centre-right): I should be very happy to go with my hon. Friend to see the nuclear reactors. The future is decarbonised baseload power. That is what we need, and it is something with which my hon. Friend and I are 100% aligned.
Energy Security Strategy — House of Commons, 2022-04-19
Topic: Energy
Kwasi Alfred Addo Kwarteng (Conservative, Centre-right): That obviously refers, relatively, to whatever the wholesale price of gas will be. I am not a gas trader, and nor is the hon. Gentleman. He has no idea what the wholesale gas price will be either. The strategy will have a tendency to lower prices.
Energy Security Strategy — House of Commons, 2022-04-19
Topic: Energy
Andrew Theakstone Percy (Conservative, Centre-right): If recent events have shown us one thing, it is the importance of having our own strategic steel industry—something that I know the Secretary of State understands. The announcement of the expansion of the energy-intensive industries compensation scheme is welcomed by the industry, but can the Secretary of State tell us when we will know the details of that?
Energy Security Strategy — House of Commons, 2022-04-19
Topic: Energy
Kwasi Alfred Addo Kwarteng (Conservative, Centre-right): There was drilling, and I remember it well. When I was the Energy Minister, I was receiving daily updates on the Richter scale, and yes, there were moments—there were times—when the level exceeded the limit that we had imposed. I think it entirely legitimate now, given where gas prices are, to look again at some of the evidence.
Energy Security Strategy — House of Commons, 2022-04-19
Topic: Energy
Alun Hugh Cairns (Conservative, Centre-right): I congratulate my right hon. Friend on the publication of the report, which provides certainty for so many sectors, particularly oil and gas, and nuclear. However, much attention has rightly been paid to the support for energy-intensive industries, and there have understandably been many questions involving the steel industry. Will my right hon. Friend confirm that the support extends to the chemical industry, given that Dow Corning has a site in my constituency, as well as others?
Energy Security Strategy — House of Commons, 2022-04-19
Topic: Energy
Kwasi Alfred Addo Kwarteng (Conservative, Centre-right): My right hon. Friend knows very well that the chemical industry is central not only to people in his constituency, but to those throughout the north-east. We engage with energy-intensive sectors such as the glass, steel and chemical sectors, and others.