argyrotsipi/train-dataset huggingface dataset:
European Union (Withdrawal) Bill — House of Lords, 2018-03-14
Topic: Mixed Topics
Martin Callanan (Conservative, Centre-right): I am sure that it will be at the forefront of our negotiation priorities, given the close interest that many noble Lords have taken in this vital national issue In response to Amendment 145, tabled by the noble Baroness, Lady Crawley, I reiterate that this Government have committed to maintaining high standards of consumer protection, delivering the stability that consumers need to continue to make purchases and a level playing field in trade with the EU—at the very seminar to which she referred, I believe that my ministerial colleague, Robin Walker, was present to set out the Government’s position. I myself have met Which? in Bristol on a number of occasions, and we will continue to engage with consumer organisations. We start from a strong position of long-standing co-operation on the effective enforcement of consumer protection laws, and it is essential that the UK through this Bill is able to ensure that UK consumer protections continue uninterrupted at the point we exit the European Union Amendment 147, tabled by the noble Lord, Lord Rooker, is rightly concerned with food standards. The UK has world-leading standards of food safety and quality backed up by a rigorous legislative framework. The Bill will ensure that we are able to maintain those high standards once the UK leaves the European Union. The Government are proud of our high standards of food safety, and these will not be watered down when we leave the EU. Maintaining safety and public confidence in the food we all eat is a high priority for the Government, and any future trade deal must work for UK farmers, businesses and consumers A number of EU agencies, such as the European Food Safety Authority referred to in Amendment 184 tabled by the noble Lord, Lord Adonis, have been established to support EU member states and their citizens. May I say how pleased I am to see the noble Lord in his place today? We missed him very much in our debates on Monday evening, with his great insights on our issues.
European Union (Withdrawal) Bill — House of Lords, 2018-03-14
Topic: Immigration
Martin Callanan (Conservative, Centre-right): I fear that I will disappoint the noble Lord yet again. It is of course a vital subject. We are currently formulating our proposals. It will of course be a matter for negotiation, but the Home Office will, I believe, set out in a White Paper later this year how a future immigration system might work.
European Union (Withdrawal) Bill — House of Lords, 2018-03-14
Topic: Other
Annabel Goldie (Conservative, Centre-right): My Lords, the Chief Whip has asked me to indicate that there is some concern about the availability of facilities if we do not adjourn the Committee. I therefore propose that at this point we adjourn and I suggest that we resume after Questions have concluded.
European Union (Withdrawal) Bill — House of Lords, 2018-03-14
Topic: Other
William Spicer (Conservative, Centre-right): I am very grateful to the noble Lord, for whom I have long respect. Is he not proposing a bee sting, in effect—Parliament stings and then dies? The point of the Bill is to give powers to Parliament, which he would take away from Parliament’s control.
European Union (Withdrawal) Bill — House of Lords, 2018-03-14
Topic: Other
Michael Bruce Forsyth (Conservative, Centre-right): I suggest to the noble Baroness that it would save us all a great deal of time and effort in coming here if she simply read out all our speeches on our behalf, using this rather extraordinary procedure that she has embarked upon.
European Union (Withdrawal) Bill — House of Lords, 2018-03-14
Topic: Other
Annabel Goldie (Conservative, Centre-right): My Lords, the noble Baroness, Lady Kingsmill, wanted to participate earlier but had an inescapable engagement. She and her colleague, the noble Baroness, Lady McDonagh, spoke to me. I felt that, in all the circumstances, it would be in our interests because, as far as I am aware, we have not had a female contribution to this debate. It is appropriate that the noble Baroness, Lady McDonagh, be given the opportunity to express her views and, in these exceptional circumstances, to convey the views of her noble friend Lady Kingsmill.
European Union (Withdrawal) Bill — House of Lords, 2018-03-14
Topic: Other
Michael Bruce Forsyth (Conservative, Centre-right): Far be it for me to argue with my noble friend, but this is not a matter of gender, it is a matter of procedure of the House. If one is able to read out other people’s speeches without limit, it creates a most extraordinary precedent. I hope those in charge of our procedures will consider whether it is something that should be repeated.
European Union (Withdrawal) Bill — House of Lords, 2018-03-14
Topic: Other
Rosalind Altmann (Conservative, Centre-right): It is indeed our job to make recommendations to the other place if we believe that there are issues in this Bill which go to the heart of some of the constitutional matters relating to it.
European Union (Withdrawal) Bill — House of Lords, 2018-03-14
Topic: Mixed Topics
Martin Callanan (Conservative, Centre-right): I can give him the assurance that we intend, we expect, we hope and we want the vote in this Parliament to take place before the European Parliament votes, but we do not know at what stage the European Parliament will vote: it may be, to quote a hypothetical circumstance, that this Parliament will be in recess and that the European Parliament will have a vote immediately thereafter. However, I do not know; I am just saying when we want it to take place and we expect and intend it to do so.
European Union (Withdrawal) Bill — House of Lords, 2018-03-14
Topic: Other
Terence Langley Higgins (Conservative, Centre-right): My noble friend speaks of a clear instruction from the British people in the referendum but the Bill which was introduced for a referendum, and then debated and voted on in this House, was very clearly for an advisory referendum. It was in no sense an instruction.
European Union (Withdrawal) Bill — House of Lords, 2018-03-14
Topic: Civil Rights
Terence Langley Higgins (Conservative, Centre-right): But there was no decision taken; it was an advisory referendum. My noble friend refers to a leaflet distributed in the course of the referendum. If so, it was totally incompatible with what this House agreed.
European Union (Withdrawal) Bill — House of Lords, 2018-03-14
Topic: Other
Martin Callanan (Conservative, Centre-right): My noble friend and I will just have to disagree on this one We have also made our position clear that the notice given by the Prime Minister in accordance with Article 50, and which was approved by both Houses of Parliament, will not be revoked. It will not be extended as Amendment 199 tabled by my noble friend Lord Cormack and Amendment 216 tabled by my noble friend Lord Hailsham seek to do.
European Union (Withdrawal) Bill — House of Lords, 2018-03-14
Topic: Civil Rights
Martin Callanan (Conservative, Centre-right): I am asserting that Parliament voted to hold a referendum. The referendum took place, and we all know the result. We believe that that referendum should be respected. I am sorry that noble Lords do not agree with me, but that is the Government’s position.
European Union (Withdrawal) Bill — House of Lords, 2018-03-14
Topic: Other
Martin Callanan (Conservative, Centre-right): I do not control the proceedings of the House of Commons. I can only set out the Government’s position on this matter The strength of that commitment and the political and public expectation that accompanies it mean that the Government could not conceivably renege on that commitment.
European Union (Withdrawal) Bill — House of Lords, 2018-03-14
Topic: Other
Christopher Francis Patten (Conservative, Centre-right): Perhaps I can help. This is becoming a rather complicated discussion and some of us are trying very hard to follow what the Minister is saying. Perhaps we are not being as intelligent as we should be. In the phrase "a meaningful vote", what does the word "meaningful" mean?
European Union (Withdrawal) Bill — House of Lords, 2018-03-14
Topic: Other
Anne McIntosh (Conservative, Centre-right): Pursuant to the earlier question, perhaps I have completely misunderstood what the Prime Minister said, but my understanding was that she promised a meaningful vote. Therefore, it would help if the Minister in summing up the debate we have just had would say what "a meaningful vote" means.
European Union (Withdrawal) Bill — House of Lords, 2018-03-14
Topic: Mixed Topics
Martin Callanan (Conservative, Centre-right): We do not intend to put a bad deal to the vote. As we have said, we want to negotiate the best possible deal that we can. Knowing the terms of a deal as early as possible is good for business and the public, in terms of being able to prepare. It gives confidence and certainty.
European Union (Withdrawal) Bill — House of Lords, 2018-03-14
Topic: Other
Martin Callanan (Conservative, Centre-right): If I can make a little more progress talking about Clause 9, I think the noble Lord will find that his question has been answered However, let me ensure that my previous statement is not taken as more significant than it is—
European Union (Withdrawal) Bill — House of Lords, 2018-03-14
Topic: Other
Martin Callanan (Conservative, Centre-right): If the noble Viscount will forgive me, I have not read the details of that. I am sure his quote is accurate but I would like to read the whole thing before I comment on it in detail.
European Union (Withdrawal) Bill — House of Lords, 2018-03-14
Topic: Other
Martin Callanan (Conservative, Centre-right): I and other Ministers have indicated in response to other groupings of amendments where we are definitely going to be bringing back further amendments on Report. However, we have also made it clear, as I hope many noble Lords in the House today will agree, that we are having further discussions with a number of people who have raised valid concerns to see how those concerns may be addressed. While on many occasions we do not want to go as far as some of the amendments, there may be some reassurances that we can give or modifications that we can suggest. I am not going to give any definite commitments at this stage—that is not how this process works—but we are looking at all the issues and, as I have said on numerous occasions, we will do what we can to take into account the concerns of the House.
European Union (Withdrawal) Bill — House of Lords, 2018-03-14
Topic: Other
Michael Bruce Forsyth (Conservative, Centre-right): Perhaps I was not paying enough attention, but can I ask my noble friend: if we are going to end up with primary legislation to implement the agreement, why is it necessary to have Clause 9 at all? He gave some examples of particular regulations, but I could not see the link that justified having Clause 9 itself.
European Union (Withdrawal) Bill — House of Lords, 2018-03-14
Topic: Other
Martin Callanan (Conservative, Centre-right): There are some technical provisions that we may want to use Clause 9 to implement, subject to the provisions of Amendment 7. There is also the political imperative that the House of Commons considered this matter closely and decided to keep Clause 9 in the Bill, albeit modified. We want to respect the will of the House of Commons.
European Union (Withdrawal) Bill — House of Lords, 2018-03-14
Topic: Other
Annabel Goldie (Conservative, Centre-right): I understand what the noble Lord is saying, and I accept in principle that that is a fair assessment of the position, but that is not to say that that should preclude the flexibility to deal with something if it does arise. That is why the Government maintain that there is an argument to justify retention of this provision.
European Union (Withdrawal) Bill — House of Lords, 2018-03-14
Topic: Other
Annabel Goldie (Conservative, Centre-right): I am grateful to the noble and learned Lord for teasing that out. I shall undertake to investigate and to write to him on the point I have presented my case. I realise from the responses to my presentation that this may not have been the most persuasive or cogent advancement of my position and I recognise that changing the Committee’s mind on this may be a tall order, but I hope I have, for your Lordships at least, made this fare a little more digestible. I urge noble Lords to reflect on the arguments I have advanced. As I have said, though, if the view of the Committee is ultimately that this element of the Bill remains unpalatable, I shall take that view away and we can see where we are on Report. In the meantime, I ask the noble Lord to withdraw his amendment.
European Union (Withdrawal) Bill — House of Lords, 2018-03-14
Topic: Immigration
Christopher Francis Patten (Conservative, Centre-right): I think the most explicit reference to the dangers of a hard border—of border crossings and customs officials being re-established—and the most serious warning about those has come from the chief constable of the Northern Ireland police service. He was very explicit on this subject, and I think he was much more explicit about the dangers than anybody has been in this House. I do not want to question the importance of what the noble Lord is saying, but it is worth recalling that the most outspoken remarks have come from the chief constable.
European Union (Withdrawal) Bill — House of Lords, 2018-03-14
Topic: Other
Ian Duncan (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank the noble Lord for his final comments and I am sorry if I appeared to lack politeness in not allowing them earlier There are negotiations that are yet to come. I do not believe it is useful in negotiations to place all your cards face up. In concluding, if I may, I will cite the words of the great country and western singer Kenny Rogers. In negotiations, "You’ve got to know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em, Know when to walk away, know when to run".
European Union (Withdrawal) Bill — House of Lords, 2018-03-14
Topic: Other
George Young (Conservative, Centre-right): My Lords, there will be an opportunity for those who have been taking an interest in Committee to have a break of 40 minutes while we take the Statement. The Government are anxious to make progress with the Bill.
Salisbury Incident — House of Lords, 2018-03-14
Topic: Mixed Topics
Natalie Evans (Conservative, Centre-right): The noble Lord is absolutely right that the international community, including ourselves, welcomed the OPCW statement in September 2017 on the complete destruction of Russia’s declared chemical weapons stockpile. It is important to clarify that these were declared weapons of the Russian state, which is exactly why the Prime Minister asked for an explanation of how the Novichok nerve agent came to be used in Salisbury last week. The noble Lord is absolutely right, as I said in a previous answer, that we made a national statement to the OPCW executive council and we will be talking to it about further actions we can take in the future.
Salisbury Incident — House of Lords, 2018-03-14
Topic: Mixed Topics
Lucy Neville-Rolfe (Conservative, Centre-right): My Lords, Salisbury is my home town and we are still in shock. Can my noble friend tell me how Mr Skripal and his daughter—and indeed brave Sergeant Bailey—are doing and what their prospects of recovery are? Have there been any signs of anyone else getting ill, which would obviously concern us a lot?
European Union (Withdrawal) Bill — House of Lords, 2018-03-14
Topic: Other
John Taylor (Conservative, Centre-right): My Lords, the arrangements for debates are frequently discussed through the usual channels, as the noble Lord will be aware. The Statement that we have just listened to occupied the dinner break. I am afraid that the noble Lord had the opportunity, if he wished, to get sustenance. A number of noble Lords have not had dinner up to now, but no doubt they will find opportunities to do so.
European Union (Withdrawal) Bill — House of Lords, 2018-03-14
Topic: Other
John Taylor (Conservative, Centre-right): The target for the day is printed on the groupings list. It states that we should, "go no further than the group beginning amendment 220" We have adjusted that because of the amount of time we have spent so far on the amendments today. We have had eight and a half hours of actual discussion on the Bill today and completed four groups. We need to make progress. I am afraid that we are going to have to sit later than 10.30 pm. I would like to conclude the business at that time but I am afraid that it will not be possible unless we have an enormous rush of amendments not being moved. I think that is unrealistic, so I must tell the noble Lord that I think he will be sitting quite late this evening.
European Union (Withdrawal) Bill — House of Lords, 2018-03-14
Topic: Other
John Taylor (Conservative, Centre-right): Not at all. The House is perfectly entitled to take as much time as it wishes in debating these issues. However, as Government Chief Whip, it is my task to get this legislation through the House. I am afraid that noble Lords will have to be prepared to co-operate in that endeavour.
European Union (Withdrawal) Bill — House of Lords, 2018-03-14
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Howard Leigh (Conservative, Centre-right): I shall speak briefly to Amendment 183. I am aware of the EIF because of its investment in the UK venture capital industry, in which I serve on a professional basis from time to time. I understand that the Chancellor has committed an extra £2.5 billion to the BBB specifically to make up for the loss of future investment from the EIF into venture capital funds in the UK, which would negate the need for this. There is a problem in that the EIF, from Article 50 being triggered, has announced that it is looking only at funds where two-thirds of the investment will be in the EU and at least 50% in continental Europe. So organisations that contribute enormously to our economy—for example, social impact investment companies such as Bridges, which is 100% investing in UK companies—have, from the moment of Article 50 being triggered, had the decision-making process frozen by the EIF. This has been damaging to them. I suggest—the Minister might care to comment—that the problem is not here and then after we exit the EU but in the transition period. For some unknown reason, the EIF is freezing the money rightfully due to UK investments.
European Union (Withdrawal) Bill — House of Lords, 2018-03-14
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Martin Callanan (Conservative, Centre-right): We are having a serious debate about the EIB. The noble Lord is demeaning the subject before the House The British Business Bank has already raised the limit on the amount that it can invest in venture capital funds from 33% to 50%. It has also brought forward the £400 million of additional investment that was announced in the Autumn Statement. As a result, we expect it to have doubled its investment in venture capital this financial year. We have also broadened the range of the UK guarantee scheme by offering construction guarantees for the first time. I hope that that addresses the noble Baroness’s question.
European Union (Withdrawal) Bill — House of Lords, 2018-03-14
Topic: Other
Martin Callanan (Conservative, Centre-right): I do not have an answer to that question. I will come back to the noble Baroness on that. I have only the figures that I outlined to her I hope that I have reassured the noble Lord enough not to press whichever amendment he wished to move.
European Union (Withdrawal) Bill — House of Lords, 2018-03-14
Topic: Immigration
Andrew Robathan (Conservative, Centre-right): My Lords, I regret to say that I shall introduce a bit of controversy into the proceedings at 22.38 in the evening. It is insulting to suggest that those of us who believe that our future will be better outside the European Union—at 66, I’m all right, Jack; I think about the young, not myself—wish to curtail the rights of young people. I say to the noble Earl that I am European and I feel European; I just do not wish to be part of the European Union Let us look at this issue in detail rather than at what the noble Earl has said. We all agree that everybody should have opportunities to go to Europe and elsewhere. I have a niece studying in Canada, which is not, as far as I am aware, a part of the European Union. I have another niece studying in Australia, which is not, as far as I am aware, a part of the European Union. I understand that the Erasmus programme covers a great many countries that are not in the European Union, so it has absolutely nothing to do with the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill. The noble Earl is only a year younger than me; I have just looked that up. Surely he remembers that people were able to study in Europe before we were in the European Union. They did, and people from Europe came and studied with me at university. There was no bar. The only bar that the noble Earl talks about is the situation he mentioned of somebody in Paris stopping somebody else from going to work in Paris. It is not up to us; it is up to them.
European Union (Withdrawal) Bill — House of Lords, 2018-03-14
Topic: Mixed Topics
Andrew Robathan (Conservative, Centre-right): Much as I like all three countries that the noble Lord just referred to, the facts are that I have a niece studying in Australia and another in Canada. Sadly, I have none studying in France or Germany at the moment.
European Union (Withdrawal) Bill — House of Lords, 2018-03-14
Topic: Immigration
Martin Callanan (Conservative, Centre-right): Of course we will take into account the wishes of young people to move freely, just as we will take into account the wishes of older people to move freely We will underwrite successful bids for Erasmus+ submitted while the UK is still a member state, even if payments continue beyond the point of exit. Therefore, applications for funding from UK institutions should continue, and are continuing, as normal The noble Baroness, Lady Humphreys, asked me again, as the noble Baroness, Lady Ludford, has done in the past, about the issue of associate EU citizenships. Let me make the point to the Liberal Democrats once again—it seems to have difficulty permeating through to them—that the EU treaty provisions state that only citizens of EU member states are able to hold EU citizenship. Therefore, when the UK ceases to be a member of the European Union, British nationals will no longer hold EU citizenship unless they hold dual nationality with another EU member state For those reasons, I hope the noble Earl will withdraw his amendment.
National Planning Policy Framework — House of Lords, 2018-03-06
Topic: Housing
Michael Morris (Conservative, Centre-right): Is my noble friend aware that this is the first time for 25 years that we at least have a policy with hope for those who want to rent and those who want to buy? For those who want to rent, next to no council housing has been built in the United Kingdom for over 20 years—which covers the Labour Government, the Liberal-Conservative Government and the Conservative Government. On top of that, there has been no action on the ground on rogue landlords. Finally, every young couple wants to buy. They want their own home. My noble friend talked about a number of things that will be of enormous benefit, but missing from that list was a firm commitment on Help to Buy. Will that continue? Lastly, my noble friend knows that I take a particular interest in new towns and garden cities. I heard no mention of either of those two phrases. Will he confirm that they are firmly in the forefront of the Government’s thinking?