argyrotsipi/train-dataset huggingface dataset:
Carillion — House of Commons, 2018-01-15
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Andrew James Bridgen (Conservative, Centre-right): Does my right hon. Friend agree that companies do not fail—directors and management teams fail? Does he also agree that capitalism without bankruptcy is like Christianity without hell: there is nothing to keep us on the straight and narrow? Carillion is finished, but demand for its services continues. The jobs will be recreated, and in future the management will have to be better.
Carillion — House of Commons, 2018-01-15
Topic: Housing
David Roy Lidington (Conservative, Centre-right): Certainly, the Government’s wish and intention is that we can get on with construction work in the west midlands without material disruption. I will certainly pass the message very clearly to fellow Ministers in the two Departments my hon. Friend referred to.
Carillion — House of Commons, 2018-01-15
Topic: Domestic Commerce
David Roy Lidington (Conservative, Centre-right): No. There are few countries in which companies do not fail. What is important in this case is that responsibility and financial liability for that failure are seen very clearly to rest with the shareholders and creditors, not with the public purse, and that Government energy is directed towards ensuring that those public services continue to be provided.
Carillion — House of Commons, 2018-01-15
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Jeremy Mark Quin (Conservative, Centre-right): Following on from the last question, once the official receiver’s investigation into the specifics of the directors of Carillion is concluded, how will my right hon. Friend ensure that any more general lessons regarding corporate governance are taken up, considered and applied where necessary elsewhere?
Carillion — House of Commons, 2018-01-15
Topic: Domestic Commerce
David Roy Lidington (Conservative, Centre-right): I normally have time for the hon. Gentleman, but I am afraid that in this instance he wrote his script before listening to the statement. There have been no payments to Carillion except payments for services actually delivered by Carillion companies, in line with their contracts. What today has demonstrated is that the financial risk is transferred to the private sector contractor, and it is right that that should be the case while the Government concentrate on continuity of public services.
Carillion — House of Commons, 2018-01-15
Topic: Mixed Topics
David Roy Lidington (Conservative, Centre-right): There is no question of any blindspot. The Government, in common with any other party that was doing business with Carillion, clearly did not have access to the company’s books. The evidence of our concern is the very fact that the relevant Departments and agencies ensured that there was protection through the creation of joint ventures on key contracts when it became a matter of public record that Carillion had difficulties.
Carillion — House of Commons, 2018-01-15
Topic: Housing
David Roy Lidington (Conservative, Centre-right): The Department for Housing, Communities and Local Government has been in touch with those housing associations that we think might have been affected by the collapse of Carillion. So far, we have not been alerted to any immediate difficulties, but this is something that the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government will be keeping under close watch.
Space Industry Bill [Lords] — House of Commons, 2018-01-15
Topic: Mixed Topics
Jo Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend raises an extremely important point that was the subject of considerable discussion when the Bill was in the other place, and we will return to it in detail in Committee. For the time being, I can say that we recognise that launch from the UK is an important new activity, and, given the risks involved, further work needs to be carried out on the appropriateness of capping either liability to Government or to third parties in prescribed circumstances. State aid issues must also be considered in relation to any such cap that we might want to introduce. However, we plan to announce a call for evidence on all issues relating to insurance and liabilities early this year following the Bill’s Royal Assent.
Space Industry Bill [Lords] — House of Commons, 2018-01-15
Topic: Mixed Topics
John Henry Hayes (Conservative, Centre-right): My right hon. Friend and I enjoyed many happy moments—it seemed much longer than that—on the Automated and Electric Vehicles Bill Committee recently. His contribution to that Committee, may I say with absolute seriousness, was very important. It helped to shape and hone the legislation in a way that, had he not been there would not have happened. I could say the same about colleagues on the other side of the Chamber, too. Proper scrutiny in this House does improve legislation and we should never assume that we are merely going through the motions—that is not what this House is about. At its best, it is the very apex of good democratic polities.
Space Industry Bill [Lords] — House of Commons, 2018-01-15
Topic: Other
Stephen Charles Kerr (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend is about to describe frameworks that apply to the whole of the UK, and what lies ahead of us over the next two days is an outstanding example of why we often need UK frameworks.
Space Industry Bill [Lords] — House of Commons, 2018-01-15
Topic: Mixed Topics
Luke Patrick Graham (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend is making a fantastic speech, and Prestwick is a fantastic site. Does he agree that the benefits of locating a spaceport there would encourage wider infrastructure investment, including in high-speed rail, as well as more connectivity and improved investment into Scotland and the north of England? Would it not be great to have a more connected United Kingdom?
Space Industry Bill [Lords] — House of Commons, 2018-01-15
Topic: Mixed Topics
Luke Patrick Graham (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend refers to the moon landings in the 1960s. It was a small step for a man, but does he agree that this Bill is a chance to invigorate everyone in our country and to show how much they can contribute not only to the future economy but to the future development of the entire globe?
Space Industry Bill [Lords] — House of Commons, 2018-01-15
Topic: Mixed Topics
Robert Alexander Stewart (Conservative, Centre-right): Having run a satellite industry company, for me one of the worries is to do with the amount of launching that we are doing. That is great, but what we have to think about is how to get rid of the junk. There is so much junk up in space now that it is becoming incredibly dangerous. Internationally, we need regulations on how we destroy a satellite when its life is over. It should be brought down rather than left up, and the way to bring it down is to put it into the Pacific graveyard, which already exists. We bring the satellite down, and it either burns up or it goes into a very remote area of the ocean. We must think about that; otherwise, we are producing an environmental catastrophe in space, which is almost there now.
Brexit (Creative Industries) — House of Commons, 2018-03-29
Topic: Mixed Topics
Questions: If he will hold discussions with the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and representatives of the creative industries on trade in that sector with EU countries after the UK leaves the EU. [R]
Robert John Blackman (Conservative, Centre-right): One of the biggest growth markets is in the film and creative industries: one of the biggest areas now, apart from Hollywood, is Bollywood in India. What relations has my right hon. Friend established to build that market up so that we can exploit opportunities with our good friends from India?
SMEs (Exports) — House of Commons, 2018-03-29
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Mark Julian Francis Pawsey (Conservative, Centre-right): It is great news about the west midlands, but a constituent of mine who has a small business providing services around the world came to tell me about the challenges he faces in getting appropriate banking facilities and about the need to minimise losses on currency transfers. What steps is the Department taking to make sure that UK banks provide the facilities, support and advice that SMEs need in order to export?
Education Exports — House of Commons, 2018-03-29
Topic: Mixed Topics
Kevin John Foster (Conservative, Centre-right): Torbay’s language schools provide a valuable source of educational exports by encouraging students from across the world to learn here. What work is the Minister’s Department doing to assist them in securing trade from growing economies in Asia, as the Devon School of English recently did in Taiwan?
Section 232 Tariffs — House of Commons, 2018-03-29
Topic: Mixed Topics
Questions: What assurances he has received from his counterparts in the US Administration that the section 232 tariffs imposed by that country on steel and aluminium imports will not apply to UK exports.; I welcome the assurance that section 232 tariffs will not apply to UK exports, but, ultimately, any tariffs will have a significant impact on prices here and could have a knock-on effect on those working in the steel industry, including in Tata Steel at Port Talbot, which neighbours my constituency. If those tariffs are implemented, what additional support will the Government provide for the industry to help deal with the damaging tariffs imposed on workers?
Liam Fox (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Gentleman is right: there will be a knock-on price effect and there is also likely to be a displacement effect in the global steel market, for which we may have to look at imposing safeguard measures; along with the European Union, we would do so. He is also right that there would be a knock-on price effect in the United States, too. It does not make any sense to protect 140,000 steel jobs in the United States and see prices rise for the 6.5 million US workers who are dependent on steel.
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2018-03-29
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Questions: Will the Secretary of State reassure my constituent, Simon Bainbridge, who is one of the finest producers of Northumbrian lamb, that lamb sales will not be forgotten in the new free trade agreements?
Gregory William Hands (Conservative, Centre-right): The allegation that anybody has stood idly by is utter rot. On Monday—perhaps the hon. Gentleman has not been following the news—my right hon. Friend the Business Secretary issued an open letter to Melrose, the company that is doing the bidding, to request certain safeguards for employees, and so on, if the bid was successful. Melrose has responded, agreeing to give those very assurances. We took action on this days ago. He needs to keep up with the news.
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2018-03-29
Topic: Immigration
Questions: Will the Secretary of State reassure my constituent, Simon Bainbridge, who is one of the finest producers of Northumbrian lamb, that lamb sales will not be forgotten in the new free trade agreements?; SMEs are the backbone of our economy. As a Minister, I tried to help SMEs in the security sector to export. Food and farming businesses in Lincolnshire would like to do the same, but they need encouragement, advice and support. Will the Secretary of State meet me and a small group of others to see how we can help to feed the world and make it safe too?; The dumping of steel from states including China has had a detrimental impact on the steel industry in the UK. Ahead of the further dumping that is anticipated when the US tariffs come into force, Canada has announced that it will be offering extra powers for border security checks to crack down on cheap steel. What assessment has the Secretary of State made of this policy?
Liam Fox (Conservative, Centre-right): I rather feel that I answered this question earlier. The EU will look to see whether we need to introduce safeguarding measures as a consequence of any diversion. We are working closely with our European partners to assess what the potential may be and what the joint EU response would need to be consequently.
STEM Degrees — House of Commons, 2018-03-29
Topic: Civil Rights
Amber Rudd (Conservative, Centre-right): I would say that there is sufficient peer pressure to make sure that producers and manufacturers of gender-specific toys are increasingly being encouraged to think again about that, so that we can encourage young women to make sure they take seriously their career options.
Universal Credit — House of Commons, 2018-03-29
Topic: Other
Christopher Laurie Malthouse (Conservative, Centre-right): My right hon. Friend often emerges from the forest to ask difficult and challenging questions, as he has now done to me for the second time this week. I am not aware that there is such evidence, but I am happy to go away and research it, and I will write to him if there is any.
BBC: Gender Pay Equality — House of Commons, 2018-03-29
Topic: Civil Rights
Victoria Atkins (Conservative, Centre-right): The Minister for Digital and the Creative Industries and I will discuss pay equality with the BBC. We are clear that the BBC, as a public service broadcaster that is funded by the licence fee, has a responsibility to set an example on pay and other equality measures in the workplace. Getting that right is important for licence fee payers, as well as for all the talented women who work at the BBC.
BBC: Gender Pay Equality — House of Commons, 2018-03-29
Topic: Civil Rights
Philip Thomas Hollobone (Conservative, Centre-right): Even more disgraceful than its continued pro-remain Brexit coverage is the way in which the BBC discriminates against female employees. Will my hon. Friend invite the director-general into her office for an interview without coffee to make it quite clear that this continued maltreatment of female employees must stop immediately?
BBC: Gender Pay Equality — House of Commons, 2018-03-29
Topic: Civil Rights
Victoria Atkins (Conservative, Centre-right): We are clear that it is against the law to pay women differently when they do the same work as men, and that has been the law for some 40 years. The deadline for the gender pay gap data is next Wednesday, and large employers such as the BBC must have published their data by then. This is precisely about drawing open those areas where women are not being treated as fairly by their employers as men.
Taylor Review: Pregnancy and Maternity Discrimination — House of Commons, 2018-03-29
Topic: Civil Rights
Questions: What steps the Government are taking to implement the recommendations of the Taylor review of modern working practices on strengthening legislation on pregnancy and maternity discrimination.
Andrew James Griffiths (Conservative, Centre-right): As we said in the Government’s response to the Matthew Taylor review, we will update and consolidate pregnancy and maternity discrimination guidance on gov.uk this summer. We will also review statutory redundancy protection for pregnant women and new mothers, and consider whether it is sufficient.
Taylor Review: Pregnancy and Maternity Discrimination — House of Commons, 2018-03-29
Topic: Civil Rights
Questions: What steps the Government are taking to implement the recommendations of the Taylor review of modern working practices on strengthening legislation on pregnancy and maternity discrimination.
Andrew James Griffiths (Conservative, Centre-right): My right hon. Friend is right: the Griffiths household is waiting with bated breath—it is days before the next Griffiths generation appears on the planet I thank my right hon. Friend for the advice that the Committee has given me since I have had ministerial responsibility for this issue. Discriminating against women in the workplace because they are pregnant or new mothers is unlawful, and the Government are determined to stamp it out. She raises the issue of NDAs, and that topical and serious matter is at the top of my agenda.
Gender Pay Gap: Action Plans — House of Commons, 2018-03-29
Topic: Mixed Topics
Amber Rudd (Conservative, Centre-right): Last year we introduced groundbreaking regulations requiring employers to publish gender pay gap data. Reporting is an important first step, but what matters now is that employers actually take action. While this is not mandatory, we strongly encourage employers to publish a plan alongside their figures.
Gender Pay Gap: Action Plans — House of Commons, 2018-03-29
Topic: Civil Rights
Amber Rudd (Conservative, Centre-right): The gender pay gap, although completely unwelcome, is at the lowest level that we have ever seen. It is actually 9%, and the gender pay gap reporting that we have now mandated will help to drive that down. We are already seeing it very much as part of people’s conversations and I think we will see a material difference.
Gender Pay Gap: Action Plans — House of Commons, 2018-03-29
Topic: Civil Rights
Amber Rudd (Conservative, Centre-right): I share the hon. Lady’s outrage at some of the sizes of the gender pay gaps, but I feel that that just gives even more weight to the fact that it was absolutely right to bring forward last year’s legislation. Revealing pay gaps is exactly how we will start to get proper action.
Gender Pay Gap: Action Plans — House of Commons, 2018-03-29
Topic: Civil Rights
Amber Rudd (Conservative, Centre-right): What is the law is that gender pay gap reporting takes place. The EHRC has the ability to take measures that can end up with fines and further sanctions. In terms of proposals for companies to actually close the gap themselves, we encourage them to put forward their own plans.
Gender Pay Gap: Action Plans — House of Commons, 2018-03-29
Topic: Civil Rights
Alberto Castrenze Costa (Conservative, Centre-right): Two weeks ago, I met senior managers at the BBC and discussed the gender pay gap. It is right that the BBC continues to attract talent, but has the Minister determined whether the gender pay gap at the BBC is due to men being overpaid or women being underpaid?
Gender Pay Gap: Action Plans — House of Commons, 2018-03-29
Topic: Civil Rights
Amber Rudd (Conservative, Centre-right): The BBC certainly has a case to answer. We are aware, because it has disclosed this, that some senior male members of the BBC have addressed that by taking pay cuts. What really matters to us here, however, is that we get pay equality.
Gender Pay Gap: Action Plans — House of Commons, 2018-03-29
Topic: Mixed Topics
Amber Rudd (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank the hon. Lady for congratulating the Government on doing something that Labour failed to do for 13 years. I am pleased that she welcomes the good responses that we are getting from companies in both the public and private sectors, but there is obviously more to do. I want to make sure that companies actually take action as a result. When we discuss this with them, they say that they will do that.
Caste (Equality Act) — House of Commons, 2018-03-29
Topic: Civil Rights
Victoria Atkins (Conservative, Centre-right): The Government’s consultation on how best to ensure that there is appropriate and proportionate legal protection against caste discrimination received more than 16,000 responses. This demonstrates how important the matter is to some groups and communities. We are analysing the responses and will respond in due course.
Caste (Equality Act) — House of Commons, 2018-03-29
Topic: Civil Rights
Victoria Atkins (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank my hon. Friend for his question. He has been an ardent campaigner on this point, not least, I suspect, because so many of his constituents are Hindus. We are rightly proud of our domestic anti-discrimination legislation, which provides one of the strongest legal frameworks in the world, and I have very much taken his comments about timing on board.
Women’s Refuges — House of Commons, 2018-03-29
Topic: Housing
Victoria Atkins (Conservative, Centre-right): The reforms will mean that the same amount of money that would have been available through housing benefit in 2020-21 will be made available as a grant to fund bed spaces directly. However, we are listening to the views of everyone involved in the domestic abuse sector, and we are carrying out a comprehensive audit of how domestic abuse services are delivered locally and how we can implement the best way to deliver those services.
Women’s Refuges — House of Commons, 2018-03-29
Topic: Immigration
Peter William Bone (Conservative, Centre-right): Will the Minister reassure the House that any changes that the Government make will not reduce the number of women’s refuges? In particular, will she guarantee that they will not affect victims of human trafficking, whom the Government look after very well at the moment?
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2018-03-29
Topic: Civil Rights
Amber Rudd (Conservative, Centre-right): If I may, I will briefly return to the issue of gender pay gap reporting. Tomorrow is the deadline for employers in the public sector to report their gender pay gaps, and all other employers with more than 250 staff must report by next Wednesday. I have this morning’s figures from the update of gender pay gap reporting, and I can inform the House that we have 98% registration and 81% reporting from the public sector and 82% registration and 45% reporting from the private and voluntary sectors. I hope that employers will take this opportunity to accelerate their reporting, because it is unacceptable in 2018 that there are still differences in the amounts that men and women are paid in industries from finance to beauty, and we intend to take action.
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2018-03-29
Topic: Civil Rights
Amber Rudd (Conservative, Centre-right): This is such an important question. We all know how terrible the growth of online abuse has been, particularly towards women, and when we want to encourage more women to participate in public life, it is shameful that it takes place. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has ordered a Law Commission review to ensure that what is illegal offline is illegal online and the appropriate action is being taken to follow that up.
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2018-03-29
Topic: Civil Rights
Questions: Have the Government made any assessment of whether local councils are meeting their duties under the Equality Act 2010, by keeping pavements clear of obstructions and safe for disabled people to walk?
Amber Rudd (Conservative, Centre-right): It is essential that disabled people can go about their daily lives. Particularly as we move towards the local elections, it is important that they can get out, so that we can ensure that everybody participates in voting. On the hon. Gentleman’s specific question, I will find out from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government whether it has made any such assessment.
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2018-03-29
Topic: Civil Rights
Questions: Have the Government made any assessment of whether local councils are meeting their duties under the Equality Act 2010, by keeping pavements clear of obstructions and safe for disabled people to walk?
Peter William Bone (Conservative, Centre-right): On equality in politics for women, does the Minister for Women and Equalities agree with some senior Members in this House that the next leader of the Labour party, for instance, should be a woman and that perhaps that implies that the next leader of the Conservative party must be a man?
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2018-03-29
Topic: Civil Rights
Questions: Have the Government made any assessment of whether local councils are meeting their duties under the Equality Act 2010, by keeping pavements clear of obstructions and safe for disabled people to walk?
John Simon Bercow (Conservative, Centre-right): Those are not matters for the Minister for Women and Equalities. Who knows, she might have a personal interest in these matters—I do not know? Let us hear from her anyway, because it is very interesting.