argyrotsipi/train-dataset huggingface dataset:
Christmas Adjournment — House of Commons, 2020-12-17
Topic: Mixed Topics
Nigel Martin Evans (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank the hon. Lady for her point of order and her forward notice of it. The Government have laid written ministerial statements in both Houses on the subject this afternoon. However, I am sure that Ministers on the Treasury Bench will have heard what the hon. Lady has had to say. We are approaching the time of new year resolutions and I can think of one for those on the Government Benches straightaway on that matter, so I am extremely grateful to her for that We now move to—as we are giving full titles—the Treasurer of Her Majesty’s Household. [Hon. Members: "Hear, hear."] I am just wondering whether, with that amazing tie that I have been admiring for the last hour, some of the coffers from the Household have gone on it. I think we are just about to be told. I call Stuart Andrew.
Virtual Participation in Proceedings during the Pandemic (Temporary Orders) (No. 2) — House of Commons, 2020-12-30
Topic: Other
Jacob William Rees-Mogg (Conservative, Centre-right): I am very grateful for the support of the right hon. Member for Walsall South (Valerie Vaz) for this motion. As London has gone into tier 4, it is obviously important that we move with the country at large. However, I do not want to eat further into the time available for today’s important debate.
European Union (Future Relationship) Bill: Business of the House — House of Commons, 2020-12-30
Topic: Other
Jacob William Rees-Mogg (Conservative, Centre-right): I am grateful to the right hon. Member for Walsall South (Valerie Vaz) for the support of the Opposition. In all this talk of time, it is worth bearing in mind that we have now been discussing this subject for four, five, six or perhaps nearly 50 years. Having five hours today or just under, until 2.30 pm, is about the right amount, to ensure that the legislation is passed. Once again, we see our friends in the SNP not liking the referendum result and therefore trying to stop it. We have had a referendum—leave won. This is merely the final little bit of icing being put on the Christmas cake that the Prime Minister so efficiently delivered for the nation Question put, That the amendment be made.
European Union (Future Relationship) Bill — House of Commons, 2020-12-30
Topic: Mixed Topics
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): I am grateful, Mr Speaker. Of course, it was the people of Scotland who took the sovereign decision, quite rightly, to remain in the UK—a once-in-a-generation decision. I think it highly unlikely that the people of Scotland will take a decision to cast away their new-found freedoms and new-found opportunities, not least over the marine wealth of Scotland We will be able to design our own standards and regulations, and the laws that the House of Commons passes will be interpreted—I know that this is a keen interest of hon. and right hon. Members—solely by British judges sitting in British courts. We will have the opportunity to devise new ways to spur and encourage flourishing sectors in which this country leads the world, from green energy and life sciences to synthetic biology.
European Union (Future Relationship) Bill — House of Commons, 2020-12-30
Topic: Mixed Topics
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): I am grateful to my right hon. Friend the Member for Tunbridge Wells (Greg Clark). I remember well working with him on his industrial strategy and his ideas for championing green technology and biosciences, and I can tell him that those ideas remain at the heart of this Government’s agenda. We will certainly be using our new-found legislative freedom to drive progress in those sciences and those investments across the whole UK. We will be free of EU state aid rules; we will be able to decide where and how we level up across our country, with new jobs and new hope, including free ports and new green industrial zones of a kind I am sure my right hon. Friend would approve of I must make an important point. If, in using our new freedoms, either Britain or the EU believes it is somehow being unfairly undercut, then, subject to independent third-party arbitration, and provided the measures are proportionate, either of us can decide, as sovereign equals, to protect our consumers, but this treaty explicitly envisages that any such action should be infrequent.
European Union (Future Relationship) Bill — House of Commons, 2020-12-30
Topic: Other
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): I hope very much that the hon. Gentleman is going to tell us that he, too, is going to join his right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Holborn and St Pancras (Keir Starmer) and vote for this agreement. Is that the case?
European Union (Future Relationship) Bill — House of Commons, 2020-12-30
Topic: Other
Charles Ashley Rupert Walker (Conservative, Centre-right): Despite the right hon. Gentleman’s gloom, he knows that I adore and love his country. Does he not believe that Scotland has the character to succeed? Despite his misgivings, Scotland is a great country. Why is his speech so full of gloom and misery when Scotland has the character to prosper and succeed now?
European Union (Future Relationship) Bill — House of Commons, 2020-12-30
Topic: Other
Eleanor Fulton Laing (Conservative, Centre-right): In order to assist Members further down the list in preparing their speeches, I ought to give notice that after the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst (Sir Robert Neill), who is No. 19 on the list, the time limit will be reduced to three minutes—I see the hon. Member for Tonbridge and Malling (Tom Tugendhat) already tearing up part of his speech. I call Hilary Benn.
European Union (Future Relationship) Bill — House of Commons, 2020-12-30
Topic: Mixed Topics
Liam Fox (Conservative, Centre-right): Those of us who voted and campaigned to leave the European Union did so for a number of reasons. I was always a constitutional leaver. For me, the test of this Bill is: does it return the sovereignty that we sought? The answer is yes. Why? Because there is no subjugation to EU law or EU jurisprudence, no direct effect and no direct application. Retention of any of those would have been incompatible with a sovereign state. In fact, from our accession to the European Community through various EU treaties, all those elements were incompatible with the concept that those who live under the law should be able to determine those who make the law. That is what we have regained in this process The second test for me is: does this allow us to have a genuinely independent trade policy? Let us remember that we were told that it would take more than 10 years to reach a free trade agreement with the European Union and that it would be impossible to roll over all the EU agreements that we had. I stood at the Dispatch Box and listened to the Opposition incessantly telling us that. I congratulate Ministers and officials under Crawford Falconer at the Department for International Trade for all they have achieved, and I especially congratulate David Frost on landing one of the world’s biggest, if not the biggest, trade agreements in 11 months—a world record—which, again, we were told was not possible When we voted to leave the European Union, we also voted to leave the single market, although for some of us the single market is also the single anti-market, with many of the restrictions and protectionisms that it encompasses. If we want to access the single market, there has to be a price to be paid. If we want to diverge from the rules of the single market, there has to be a price to be paid. Does this agreement provide effective mechanisms for us to do those things? My answer, again, is yes.
European Union (Future Relationship) Bill — House of Commons, 2020-12-30
Topic: Mixed Topics
David Michael Davis (Conservative, Centre-right): That is the point. First, it was a negotiating aim, as the hon. Gentleman’s leader said at the time, but secondly, that is why I resigned. The strategy that we were pursuing then did not, and would not, deliver that. The only honourable thing I could do was to stand down This treaty is a new beginning, which is not to say that it is perfect—I agree with the hon. Gentleman on that. On Northern Ireland, we have issues to deal with. On fishing, we have issues to deal with, which I will come back to. On Gibraltar, we have issues to deal with. It is not over. All will lead to uncomfortable decisions in the near future Freedom is only as good as what we do with it; it is only as good as how we exploit it. One day, frankly, is not enough for us to deal with a 1,200 page treaty in that respect. Some may say, "Well, surely it’s a day to celebrate—to vote yes and move on," but not at all, because the European Union will, of course, use the treaty to its own advantage. We can look at the past and see how it has done that For example, Switzerland struck a whole load of trade treaties, primarily in the ’90s, but subsequently as well, with the European Union. About four or five years ago, the Swiss people voted to restrict their migration and cut back on the free movement of people. The European Union bullied the Swiss Government into giving in by saying, "We will withdraw all the free trade arrangements we currently have." That is important, because we have not been through the whole 1,200 pages here to make sure that we do not have any such issues in there. We do have one in the fishing arrangements. In five years’ time, the EU can trigger an end to the trade and transport elements. That is not impossible—we can deal with it—but we will have to devise a strategy for that My point to the House is that we have to come back to this treaty and look at it in detail—all 1,200 pages—to devise a strategy, so we do not get into conflicts with the European Union, fall into traps or get into acrimonious disputes with the member states. They are our neighbours and friends, and we have to devise a strategy that will keep them as neighbours and friends and maximise our joint benefits. If the House does that, we will have a bright future. To come back to the point of the hon. Member for Hove (Peter Kyle), we will have better than the exact same benefits, because we will have bigger opportunities in the rest of the world, as the Department for International Trade has already demonstrated, as my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said. On that basis, I will vote for this treaty.
European Union (Future Relationship) Bill — House of Commons, 2020-12-30
Topic: Immigration
Ben Everitt (Conservative, Centre-right): On passporting, I am sure that my hon. Friend would agree that the ball is in the EU’s court to get this done, not least because if the deals we are working on with our friends in the US, Australia and New Zealand work out as we intend them to, we will be in a much stronger position than we are now.
European Union (Future Relationship) Bill — House of Commons, 2020-12-30
Topic: Other
Conor Burns (Conservative, Centre-right): I absolutely agree. Knowing the Prime Minister as I do, I can say that he will not let down my hon. Friend’s constituents. My hon. Friend will be rightly rewarded at the next general election for how the Prime Minister will deliver for him and his constituents.
European Union (Future Relationship) Bill — House of Commons, 2020-12-30
Topic: Other
Nigel Martin Evans (Conservative, Centre-right): We had hoped to go to North Shropshire to listen to Owen Paterson, but the line has gone down. We do hope, Owen, if you are watching and listening, to come to you before the wind-ups a bit later on. We will try our level best.
European Union (Future Relationship) Bill — House of Commons, 2020-12-30
Topic: Other
Eleanor Fulton Laing (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank the hon. Gentleman for his point of order. It is a perfectly reasonable question to ask at this stage in the proceedings, but as Mr Speaker said just before he left the Chair, under the order of the House today we now move to a Committee of the whole House. The House decided this morning in the timetable motion under which we are operating. That is the answer to the hon. Gentleman’s question. I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will also have noted that, unusually, we are in a position where the Bill being taken in these unusual circumstances at this time can be only rejected or passed in its entirety, so the opportunity for any change has long passed. The hon. Gentleman cannot possibly argue that these matters have not been discussed and argued at length and in depth for many years. Indeed, the hon. Member for Stone (Sir William Cash) might say for decades The Chair put forthwith the Questions necessary for the disposal of the business to be concluded at that time (Order, this day). Clauses 1 to 40 ordered to stand part of the Bill. Schedules 1 to 6 agreed to. The Speaker resumed the Chair. Bill reported, without amendment.
Covid-19 Update — House of Commons, 2020-12-30
Topic: Mixed Topics
Matthew John David Hancock (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Lady’s question is one for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who has done more than almost any Finance Minister in the world to support people—whether in employment or self-employed—with some of the most generous schemes that have ever been put together. We appreciate that it is not possible to save every job, but we have done the most that we possibly can. I will make sure that someone from the Treasury gets back to the hon. Lady with a clear answer.
Education: Return in January — House of Commons, 2020-12-30
Topic: Other
Eleanor Fulton Laing (Conservative, Centre-right): Order. We still have a lot of business to get through today. I appreciate it is more difficult when people are participating virtually for them to work out how long they are taking in asking a question, but can I remind Members that a question should be a question? It is not a speech; it is just a question. If we have short questions, I know the Secretary of State will be able to give short answers.
Public Health — House of Commons, 2020-12-30
Topic: Civil Rights
Christopher Robert Chope (Conservative, Centre-right): Can my hon. Friend help me? Statutory instrument 1572 required the people of Christchurch to move from tier 1 to tier 2, and it came into effect on 19 December. Today, the Secretary of State has announced that the people of Christchurch should be moving into tier 4, with effect from midnight tonight. What has happened between 19 December and today to force the people of Christchurch to lose all that liberty?
Public Health — House of Commons, 2020-12-30
Topic: Other
Christopher Robert Chope (Conservative, Centre-right): My right hon. Friend is absolutely right to say that we are now in tier 4, but in statutory instrument No. 1646, which was laid before this House on 29 December, we were in tier 2. Today—one day later—we are in tier 4. Is that not a mockery?
Private Members’ Bills — House of Commons, 2020-12-30
Topic: Other
Nigel Martin Evans (Conservative, Centre-right): Under the order of the House agreed today, I may not adjourn the House until any message from the Lords on the European Union (Future Relationship) Bill has been received and the Speaker has reported the Royal Assent to any Act agreed upon by both Houses. The Speaker will be coming back to do that As Members have said, this is an historic and momentous day, and it is in so many ways, but it is ending on a message of hope with the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine. While 2020, as I think we can all agree without a Division, has been the most dismal year in memory, towards its end, 2021 is already looking to be a much better year—one full of hope, not just for the United Kingdom but for the entire world. May I therefore wish everybody a happy 2021 The sitting is accordingly suspended until the House has received a message from the House of Lords about amendments to the Bill or until the Speaker is able to signify Royal Assent. I will arrange for the Division bells to be sounded a few minutes before the sitting is resumed.
Covid-19: Hospitality — House of Commons, 2020-12-15
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Paul Stuart Scully (Conservative, Centre-right): I commend my hon. Friend for his work as the voice of the hospitality sector in Bury and the surrounding area. The Government have provided an unprecedented package of support to hospitality businesses, including almost £10 billion in rates relief. Those under tier 3 may be eligible for a local restrictions support grant of up to £3,000 per month and the additional restrictions grant.
Covid-19: Hospitality — House of Commons, 2020-12-15
Topic: Domestic Commerce
James Barry Daly (Conservative, Centre-right): Hospitality businesses in Bury, Ramsbottom and Tottington have spent thousands of pounds to make their premises covid-secure. If Bury remains in tier 3 during the Christmas period, many of those businesses will face financial ruin. Will my hon. Friend therefore work with the Treasury to ensure that adequate financial support is given to those otherwise viable businesses? If we do not act now, these important community assets will be lost forever, with the devastating loss of thousands of jobs. Please save our pubs.
Covid-19: Hospitality — House of Commons, 2020-12-15
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Paul Stuart Scully (Conservative, Centre-right): I am grateful to all the hospitality businesses across the country, including in Bury, that have done so much work to become covid-secure. I am in contact with Treasury colleagues who know that businesses need support in those higher tiers, and that is why we are giving additional support for wet-led pubs worth up to £40 million in grants.
Covid-19: Effect on Business — House of Commons, 2020-12-15
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Kwasi Alfred Addo Kwarteng (Conservative, Centre-right): As the Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, my hon. Friend the Member for Sutton and Cheam (Paul Scully), has suggested, there is a considerable measure of support for pubs that are suffering at the moment. And as my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care said, there is a clear medical, epidemiological reason for pursuing the policies that we have done.
Covid-19: Effect on Business — House of Commons, 2020-12-15
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Kwasi Alfred Addo Kwarteng (Conservative, Centre-right): I do not recognise what the hon. Gentleman is saying. We are in constant dialogue with the pub industry and many people—publicans—certainly in my constituency, who have spoken to me are grateful for the measure of support. We are in constant dialogue, but they are grateful for the measure of support that has been supplied.
Covid-19: Support for Businesses — House of Commons, 2020-12-15
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Paul John Holmes (Conservative, Centre-right): The weekend before last, I was pleased finally to start my Christmas shopping in Botley High Street, as part of Small Business Saturday, which included visiting Wardrobe at 24 and Mermaids deli. This crucial campaign highlights the important role that businesses and entrepreneurs play. Does my hon. Friend agree that it is more important than ever to support our high streets and shop local this Christmas? Will he assure me that this Government will continue to stand by our town centres and high streets as we recover from covid?
Covid-19: Support for Businesses — House of Commons, 2020-12-15
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Joy Inboden Morrissey (Conservative, Centre-right): Does my hon. Friend agree on what a success the recent Small Business Saturday events were and on how important small businesses are to local communities across my constituency in Gerrards Cross, Beaconsfield and Marlow? Does he agree that we must continue to fight for small businesses during this pandemic, so that we do not risk undermining the economic foundation of our country?
Covid-19: Support for Businesses — House of Commons, 2020-12-15
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Nadhim Zahawi (Conservative, Centre-right): The recent Small Business Saturday event meant that the spend from the Great British public rose to £1.1 billion this year, which is a 38% rise on last year. The Government will continue to champion small businesses, through our unprecedented support schemes, as they begin to recover from the impact of covid-19. As the Secretary of State has just reminded me, the spend is not £200 billion—it is £280 billion of support for small business.
Covid-19: Green Economic Recovery — House of Commons, 2020-12-15
Topic: Mixed Topics
Amanda Jane Solloway (Conservative, Centre-right): We are delivering on our ambitious commitment to build back greener from covid-19. The Prime Minister’s 10-point plan for a green industrial revolution will be instrumental, creating long-term advantages for the UK in low-carbon industries and supporting up to a quarter of a million green jobs while continuing to drive down our emissions.
Covid-19: Hospitality — House of Commons, 2020-12-15
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Paul Stuart Scully (Conservative, Centre-right): I was self-employed, running companies, for most of the 25 years that I was working before I was elected to this place; there but for the grace of God go I. I will continue to reflect the views of the self-employed in conversations with the Treasury. I also speak to the hospitality sector every single week and will be doing so later today. We have allocated £40 million extra to wet-led pubs, in addition to extending the moratorium on rent evictions and legal processes facing tenants, the VAT cut and the business rates relief.
Review of Alcohol Duty — House of Commons, 2020-12-15
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Paul Stuart Scully (Conservative, Centre-right): We are in regular contact with the Chancellor on measures to support hospitality businesses. The alcohol duty review aims to improve the current system to make it simpler, more economically rational, and less administratively burdensome on businesses and Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs.
Covid-19: Support for Business — House of Commons, 2020-12-15
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Nadhim Zahawi (Conservative, Centre-right): Businesses in tier 2 that are required to close can access payments of up to £1,500 per 14 days of closure. We are giving additional financial support of £1.1 billion to local authorities to support other businesses severely affected by restrictions even though open.
Covid-19: Support for Business — House of Commons, 2020-12-15
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Christopher Lionel John Loder (Conservative, Centre-right): May I gently suggest to the Minister that one of the best ways he will be able to support small businesses in my constituency of West Dorset is to use his influence in discussions within Government tomorrow to reduce West Dorset from tier 2 to tier 1? In the event of that not being possible, could he outline more specifically what the Government will be doing to support the 97% of businesses that are small or micro-sized?
Covid-19: Support for Business — House of Commons, 2020-12-15
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Nadhim Zahawi (Conservative, Centre-right): I recognise that the winter months will continue to be extremely tough on many businesses in my hon. Friend’s constituency, but I am confident that the grant programme that we have in place, alongside other measures like the job retention scheme and the support for the self-employed that have been so widely discussed this morning, will continue to deliver that support. An estimated 90% of small and medium-sized business premises in closed retail, hospitality and leisure sectors should, broadly, have their monthly rent covered by the business grant programme.
Covid-19: Support for Business — House of Commons, 2020-12-15
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Nadhim Zahawi (Conservative, Centre-right): The local restrictions support grants, additional restriction grants and Christmas support payments are all available now for businesses through their local authority. I know that the Secretary of State takes these businesses very seriously. Throughout this whole process, since back in March, he made sure that all his Ministers talked to local government to make sure that we do get those payments out promptly.