argyrotsipi/train-dataset huggingface dataset:
Trade with Australia — House of Commons, 2022-01-20
Topic: Foreign Trade
David Michael Doogan (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): Unseemly haste in securing as many free trade deals as quickly as possible and at massive expense in pursuit of a press release and a picture with some TimTams is not the optimal trade policy that people deserve. Scotland’s farming and fishing sectors are paying the price for this public relations jamboree masquerading as trade policy. The UK Government’s own figures show domestic agriculture, forestry and fishing will suffer a £94 million hit just from the Australia deal. Scottish producers saw established routes to EU markets needlessly frustrated by this UK Government’s Brexit dogma. Will the Minister therefore apologise to Scotland’s economy?
Barriers to Global Trade — House of Commons, 2022-01-20
Topic: Foreign Trade
Deidre Leanne Brock (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): In the interests of peace and harmony, I shall refrain from dwelling on the Ashes cricket series Small businesses are simply less likely to be able to afford the consultants, lawyers, trade experts and advisers necessary to navigate the complexities of the hard Brexit customs checks that this Government insisted on. Despite that, the Government have now closed the SME Brexit support fund and not replaced it, although a Channel 4 investigation found that 26% of SMEs that trade with the EU are now considering moving some of their European operations outside the UK, while 16% said they had already done so. A Lords report published in December said it is absolutely vital that it is reopened with wider eligibility criteria, and the Federation of Small Businesses has also been calling for that for months. Will the Minister listen to the small business experts?
UK Trade Levels — House of Commons, 2022-01-20
Topic: Foreign Trade
Questions: What recent assessment she has made of trends in the level of UK trade with the (a) EU and (b) rest of the world.
Marion Fellows (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): Ireland has seen goods imports from Great Britain drop by more than a fifth since Brexit. Ireland has also, in that time, increased its goods exports to GB by more than 20%, and imports from Northern Ireland to the Republic jumped by more than 64%. Is it not the case that, by becoming independent, Scots will open the gate to 27 other markets and that Scotland can access that bridge to economic prosperity, as trade levels in the Republic and Northern Ireland are proving to us now?
British Council Staff: Afghanistan — House of Commons, 2022-01-20
Topic: International Affairs
Margaret Ferrier (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): Former guards for the UK embassy in Kabul are still awaiting evacuation, despite the Government’s promise months ago to evacuate them. All French embassy guards have been evacuated and Canada has even evacuated cleaners, while Germany and Australia still have evacuations under way. Will the Minister provide an urgent update on FCDO plans in this respect?
Uyghur Tribunal Judgment — House of Commons, 2022-01-20
Topic: International Affairs
Margaret Ferrier (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): I thank the hon. Lady for that intervention, I am glad for the clarification and I hope the Minister will consider it in her remarks In exactly one week, we will be in this Chamber again, this time to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day, and this year’s theme is learning from genocide. Would it not be timely if the Government chose the following few days to stand up against the current acts of genocide in the world, and to show how the UK continues to learn those lessons and advocates for the voiceless?
Fly-tipping — House of Commons, 2022-01-27
Topic: Law and Crime
Margaret Ferrier (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): Fly-tipping is a blight across the UK, both in rural and in urban areas. What recent assessment has the Minister made of the need for fly-tipping to be treated as organised crime, so that investigations are properly resourced?
Food Labelling — House of Commons, 2022-01-27
Topic: Agriculture
Deidre Leanne Brock (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): The Scottish Government—rather sensibly, I think—are awaiting the outcome of the EU review of genome-edited and genetically modified organism products, but the UK Government are pushing rapidly to introduce the production of genetically engineered crops and foodstuffs in England. Through the back-door route in the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020, they will enter the rest of the UK even if devolved Governments continue to prohibit them. Will any GE or GMO foods introduced in England be labelled as such so that consumers throughout the UK can make informed decisions about the food that they put in their mouth?
Elections Bill: Costs — House of Commons, 2022-01-27
Topic: Government Operations
Questions: What estimate the Committee has made of the potential cost of implementing the Elections Bill’s proposed changes to the administration and conduct of elections.
Owen George Thompson (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): I thank the hon. Gentleman for his answer. Scottish National party Members have raised moral and democratic concerns about the Elections Bill many times, but those concerns are not separate from the financial considerations. For instance, voter identity provisions may carry extra administrative and enforcement costs. Will the commission take those indirect financial implications into account, looking forward?
Middle East — House of Commons, 2022-01-25
Topic: International Affairs
Questions: What recent discussions she has held with (a) the Government of Israel and (b) representatives of the Palestinian Authority on supporting the peace-building process.
Alan Brown (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): Meanwhile, evictions and demolitions continue in East Jerusalem aimed at eradicating Palestinian presence from the whole basin, with a cemetery desecrated to make way for a Jewish national park and new settlements planned that are designed to smash the concept of a two-state solution. When will the UK Government actually take actions to demonstrate that violations of international law do indeed have consequences?
Supporting Democracy — House of Commons, 2022-01-25
Topic: International Affairs
Alyn Edward Smith (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): Mr Speaker, happy Burns night to you and to colleagues later on "O wad some Pow’r the giftie gie us To see oursels as ithers see us" would be a useful thing for those on the Treasury Bench to remember at the moment The best contribution that we, however we define ourselves, can make is to help other countries with resilience against disinformation, and I would praise to the rafters the Resist toolkit run out of the Cabinet Office. We already have a set of measures that we can use to assist other countries to combat disinformation. Could the Minister assure us that this will be beefed up, better financed and rolled out internationally? It is a very good domestic toolkit, but we could do a lot more to it, because plenty of other places really need it.
Northern Ireland Protocol: Dispute Resolution — House of Commons, 2022-01-25
Topic: International Affairs
Philippa Whitford (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): Recent Office for National Statistics data shows the Northern Ireland economy recovering more quickly from the pandemic than any other part of the UK, and a survey by Queen’s University has shown that, while people remain concerned about the impact of Brexit, the majority feels that the protocol is providing a unique trading position compared with Great Britain. While there are clearly some specific issues to be resolved, does the Foreign Secretary not recognise that demands to exclude the ECJ are confrontational, and suggestions that article 16 removes the protocol in its entirety are misleading and are creating unrealistic expectations within Northern Ireland?
Ukraine: Diplomatic Efforts — House of Commons, 2022-01-25
Topic: International Affairs
David Michael Doogan (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): I am pleased to hear about the bilateral discussions between the UK and Kyiv, but with the threat of serious conflict looming over Europe, what meetings has the Foreign Secretary held in recent days with the Prime Minister to discuss the crisis? Can she expand on the intellectual heft or geostrategic advice he applied to her at those meetings?
Downing Street Parties: Police Investigation — House of Commons, 2022-01-25
Topic: Law and Crime
Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): On Burns Day, it is probably appropriate to start with the line: "The best laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men Gang aft agley" Or perhaps it should be a line from that other great Scottish writer, Sir Walter Scott: "O what a tangled web we weave, When first we practise to deceive!" Now that the police are finally involved, I do wonder how much more personal humiliation and indignity the Prime Minister will be prepared to endure. Perhaps more importantly, how much more of this embarrassing circus are his colleagues prepared to tolerate before they act to remove this man from office? This is not going to go away; the wound is not going to heal miraculously by itself. I am sure we all know that there is an awful lot more still to come out I ask the Minister: at any time has anyone from the Sue Gray inquiry contacted the Metropolitan police? When did the Cabinet Office first learn about the police investigation? When does he now expect the Sue Gray report to be delivered? Finally, can he assure this House that when it is, it will be delivered in full, will be open and will be completely transparent for every Member of this House to access?
Downing Street Parties: Police Investigation — House of Commons, 2022-01-25
Topic: Law and Crime
Peter Wishart (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): Does the Paymaster General not think that it would be a good idea to set up a police special operations unit room in No. 10 Downing Street, because, while the police are looking at this case, they could perhaps look at cash for honours, cash for access, personal protective equipment for pals, paid advocacy, breaking the ministerial code, and all the other general Tory badness?
Downing Street Parties: Police Investigation — House of Commons, 2022-01-25
Topic: Law and Crime
Angus Brendan MacNeil (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): It is quite clear that, even after this, the Prime Minister does not want to leave No. 10 Downing Street, but do we not face the possibility that the UK’s PM might eventually be leaving No. 10 Downing Street in police handcuffs?
Downing Street Parties: Police Investigation — House of Commons, 2022-01-25
Topic: Law and Crime
Andrew Egan Henderson Hendry (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): The Paymaster General does not want to speak about the specifics of the investigation. So, for all the dodgy coronavirus contracts, the cash for honours for the Tories, the stated intention to break international law, illegally proroguing Parliament and the many other crimes and misdemeanours of this Government, does he find it a tad ironic that it is the parties in which they demonstrated their contempt for the public that finally prompted the police to investigate?
Ukraine — House of Commons, 2022-01-25
Topic: International Affairs
Ian Blackford (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): I thank the Prime Minister for advance sight of his statement and join the Leader of the Opposition, the right hon. and learned Member for Holborn and St Pancras (Keir Starmer), in congratulating the Defence Secretary on making sure throughout that we have been kept informed of developments; it is most appreciated. It is important that all of us in this House stand together in solidarity with our friends in Ukraine in defence of their sovereignty We on the Scottish National party Benches share the deep concern over the escalation of tension, the prospect of military aggression and the threat to Ukraine’s sovereignty. Russia’s actions in recent weeks and months of amassing troops, tanks and heavy military equipment near the border of Ukraine are unacceptable. We continue to support, above all, measures to resolve the crisis through diplomacy, so will the Prime Minister provide reassurance that work to deliver a peaceful and diplomatic outcome remains this Government’s main priority? The threat of bloodshed on European soil is what is at stake We stand with the people of Ukraine and understand the fears and concerns of Ukrainians across these islands, many of whom live in the UK but have family in Ukraine. The bedrock of NATO as a defensive alliance remains the solidarity between its member states, and it is clear that we need that united alliance. It is becoming increasingly apparent that, should an incursion occur, what will be required is a tougher package of sanctions that are robust and have real, measurable impact We on the SNP Benches have called for co-ordinated economic sanctions against the Putin regime and the banning of Russia from the SWIFT—the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication—banking system. Can that be confirmed as on the table today? The measures must also include tougher action on Russian money laundering and include action by the Treasury to tackle the ongoing and improper use of Scottish limited partnerships, which have been used to funnel millions of pounds in dirty money. Without that, our credibility will lessen The Prime Minister raised the issue of Magnitsky, and let me say to him that it was cross-party support that led to these sanctions. He may well remember the meeting I had with him when he was Foreign Secretary to make sure that we worked collectively to deal with those threats. Will he also commit to introducing a transparent system of company registration and proper reform of Companies House Meanwhile, we all stand solidly with the people of Ukraine and urge the Government to continue efforts for diplomacy, as long as that is possible.
Ukraine — House of Commons, 2022-01-25
Topic: International Affairs
Stewart Hosie (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): The Prime Minister said that we have already declassified compelling intelligence exposing Russian intent and that "we will continue to disclose any Russian use of…false flag operations or disinformation." How much of that declassified information will be made fully public so as to blunt or halt the spread of Russian disinformation by letting the people who see it know that it is false before they decide to press the "share" or "send" button?
Ukraine — House of Commons, 2022-01-25
Topic: International Affairs
Alyn Edward Smith (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): The Russian regime is a clear and present danger to the rules-based international order, so the SNP will be part of the coalition in Ukraine’s defence. In that spirit, does the Prime Minister accept that the real frustration of Opposition Members is that his credibility and the credibility of his Government and of us all has been undermined by continued inaction in implementing the "Moscow’s Gold" report and the Russia report? We would support the legislation to strengthen his credibility, so let us get on with it.
Ukraine — House of Commons, 2022-01-25
Topic: Energy
Anum Qaisar (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): A percentage of our natural gas comes from Russia and Putin has already said that he will turn off the taps if he deems Moscow to be unfairly sanctioned by the west. My constituents are already struggling with rising fuel costs, which is why I voted for the SNP motion in our cost of living increases debate yesterday. Does the Prime Minister accept that he must bring in a package of domestic policies to help families to pay for bills so that the international issue does not compound the problem?
Ukraine — House of Commons, 2022-01-25
Topic: International Affairs
Margaret Ferrier (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): There are reports of some Ukrainians beginning to stock up on non-perishable goods. Can the Prime Minister confirm that the Government have plans in place to support provision of necessities to ordinary Ukrainian people if necessary?
Judicial Review and Courts Bill — House of Commons, 2022-01-25
Topic: Law and Crime
Joanna Catherine Cherry (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): The Minister says that the Bill has received careful scrutiny. Does he agree that it is unfortunate that this Bill, which seeks to limit the jurisdiction of the Court of Session in Scotland, to use his own words from his letter to me dated 11 November, has not received the scrutiny of the Scottish Parliament, within whose purview the jurisdiction of the Court of Session and judicial review lie?
Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths — House of Commons, 2022-01-12
Topic: Education
Margaret Ferrier (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): The under-representation of women in STEM is informed by a variety of factors. What assessment have the Government made of how careers in niche areas of STEM such as photonics can be better advertised and incentivised for women?
Support for Disabled People — House of Commons, 2022-01-12
Topic: Social Welfare
Kirsten Frances Oswald (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): Yesterday, the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy assured me that he has had extensive conversations with the Chancellor about the cost of living crisis that we have just heard about, but what we need is action. Not only have disabled people on benefits lost the £20 a week universal credit uplift, but their benefits are lower in real terms than they were before the pandemic and many face the future with real dread. Disabled people should not bear the brunt of the cost of living crisis, so what discussions has the Minister had with his Treasury colleagues about tackling the toxic blend of Tory cuts, tax hikes, soaring inflation and surging energy bills that is affecting disabled people across the UK?
Engagements — House of Commons, 2022-01-12
Topic: Government Operations
Questions: Education is one of the biggest factors when it comes to levelling up. It is what ensures that people throughout the country have access to the same opportunities, and it is a key part of my mission to transform lives in Burnley and Padiham. With that in mind, will the Prime Minister work with me to ensure that Burnley becomes the best place for people to study, whether they are in primary or secondary school, looking for an apprenticeship in advanced engineering, or undertaking a degree in cyber-security?
Ian Blackford (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): It is an open and shut case: this was an event that should not have taken place. It broke the law, Prime Minister What is so galling about that response is that the Prime Minister feels no sense of shame for his actions. The public suffered pain and anguish at being kept apart from their families, and all the while the Prime Minister was drinking and laughing behind the walls of his private garden. The public overwhelmingly think that the Prime Minister should resign. Trust has been lost; the public will not forgive or forget. If the Prime Minister has no sense of shame, the Tory Back Benchers must act to remove him. They know that the damage is done. This weak and contemptuous Prime Minister can no longer limp on The message from the public is clear: remove this unfit Prime Minister from office, and do it now.
Afghanistan: Humanitarian Crisis — House of Commons, 2022-01-12
Topic: International Affairs
Christopher Murray Alexander Law (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): Even before our chaotic withdrawal, it was known that the people of Afghanistan faced a humanitarian crisis this winter. In September the UN estimated that only 5% of Afghans had enough food to eat each day, so the UK Government cannot say that this famine has caught them by surprise. With 1 million children at risk of severe malnourishment and 23 million people threatened with starvation, less than 25% of UK aid money pledged to Afghanistan in 2021 had been disbursed by the beginning of December, which is shocking With the UN launching an appeal for nearly £5 billion in aid for Afghanistan, will the UK Government ensure that all the funds pledged urgently reach those in need? Can the Minister confirm what new money the UK will donate, above and beyond the previous announcements? Will the UK Government finally recognise that their ideological cuts to aid have cost countless lives not only in Afghanistan but across the world, and will they reverse that decision?
Points of Order — House of Commons, 2022-01-12
Topic: International Affairs
Christopher Murray Alexander Law (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. I raised the issue of the supply of funding for the Afghanistan crisis being less than 25% by the end of November/beginning of December. Looking back on the record to a reply given by the Minister for the Middle East, North Africa and North America, he said the figure was £70 million, which is indeed less than 25%. I appreciate that the sum might have been increased during December, but it still falls 50% short of the funds allocated for 2021. Will you advise me and the Minister on how to set the record straight?
Speaker’s Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority — House of Commons, 2022-01-12
Topic: Government Operations
Richard Gordon Thomson (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): I feel like I have been given an unexpected opportunity to hold court, which I shall not take. Nevertheless, the right hon. Gentleman is correct: we are very much of a bias towards the good, rather than the great, and it is perhaps unfair to load all those concerns on to this particular appointment. I am sure the Leader of the House will have plenty to say in response to that. All public appointments, in our opinion, should be drawn from the truest possible breadth and depth of the talent that is available Question put and agreed to.
Connectivity: Scotland and the Rest of the UK — House of Commons, 2022-02-02
Topic: Government Operations
Peter Wishart (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): There is no doubt that the UK Government speak a lot about improving connectivity with Scotland, but what is the Secretary of State specifically doing to improve connectivity between the UK Conservative Cabinet and what they refer to as the political lightweights of the Scottish Conservative party?
Coastal Communities — House of Commons, 2022-02-02
Topic: Transportation
Douglas Chapman (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): Many coastal communities, including in my constituency, benefit from improved coastal shipping. What actions has the Secretary of State taken to assist in introducing a direct ferry service from Scotland to critically important export markets in Europe?
Rise in the Cost of Living — House of Commons, 2022-02-02
Topic: Energy
Questions: What discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the potential effect of the rise in the cost of living on people in Scotland.
Alyn Edward Smith (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): The UK energy market is demonstrably broken. Surely that is of concern to all of us in all parts of the House. I am particularly concerned about rural energy prices and disparities between urban and rural areas. Competition law and energy law are reserved to this place. Will the Minister support my call for an investigation into uncompetitive energy practices? If he will not, would he care to come to the city of Stirling and explain to the people of Stirling and Scotland how the UK energy market is working for them?