argyrotsipi/train-dataset huggingface dataset:
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2019-10-07
Topic: Social Welfare
Questions: I am privileged to have the universal credit processing centre for the south-west in my constituency. The staff there do an incredible job making sure the roll-out of universal credit is successful. They have done so well they have been asked to take on processing for several London boroughs, but they are currently experiencing very high case loads because of the transfer of employment and support allowance to universal credit. Will the Secretary of State make sure they get all the resources they need so that we can support these incredibly hard-working frontline staff?; Last month, I met my constituent Dr Karen Gilmore, a specialist in pain management, and several of her colleagues and members of the independent assessment service. We discussed how the personal independence payment assessments in particular do not meet the needs of people living with chronic and severe pain. Will the Minister meet Dr Gilmore and me to discuss how we can improve these assessments?; The benefits freeze has driven increased food bank usage in my constituency, as family incomes have fallen far below rising costs. The freeze is supposed to end in April. What work is the Secretary of State doing now to assess the real minimum income levels necessary to avoid destitution?; This morning, at the start of Challenge Poverty week, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation published a report entitled “Poverty in Scotland 2019”, which looks into some of the reasons why poverty levels in Scotland are not quite as bad as those in the rest of the United Kingdom. One of the major factors that it identifies is the much greater availability of affordable housing, and, in particular, the impact of nearly 20 years of council house building, and the fact that the Scottish Government have built 87,000 affordable houses since 2007. Does the Minister agree that, while he may claim that work is the best way out of poverty, unaffordable housing is a sure-fire way into poverty? Will the UK Government learn the lessons of what is happening in Scotland, and make social and council housing something to be celebrated instead of something to be demonised?; Childcare in York can cost more than £1,000 a month, and those on universal credit are being asked to pay that amount upfront. What is the Secretary of State doing to ensure that providers have the resources that they need and claimants are not having to pay?
William James Quince (Conservative, Centre-right): Childcare provision is far more generous under universal credit than it was under the legacy benefits system. Another recent change is that the flexible support fund can now be used to pay deposits or first month’s payments.
Withdrawal Agreement: Proposed Changes — House of Commons, 2019-10-07
Topic: International Affairs
James Philip Duddridge (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank the right hon. and learned Gentleman for those comments. Last week, I was able to tell the House that proposals would be tabled to the EU by the end of the week. Not only were we able to table those proposals, but we were able to publish them and share them with the House. It is the Government’s intention to share as much as possible, but at a time that is right, and not at a time when getting a good negotiation through takes precedence The right hon. and learned Gentleman asked about the Prime Minister’s position in relation to his assertion that there would be no checks at the border, near the border or at any other place. I have not seen the Taoiseach’s exact comments, but I can confirm that the position that the Prime Minister stated is still correct today and is the Government’s position, and I see no reason why that is going to change In relation to level playing fields, we are not hiding anything. We do not wish to undermine workers’ rights. We will keep those workers’ rights. Truth will tell over time, when the right hon. and learned Gentleman sees the results of the negotiation. He wants a deal, and I want a deal. The Government genuinely do not think that sharing the full text now will make doing a deal more likely.
Withdrawal Agreement: Proposed Changes — House of Commons, 2019-10-07
Topic: Foreign Trade
David Anthony Evennett (Conservative, Centre-right): I welcome my hon. Friend the Minister’s statement in response to the urgent question, and we all hope for no further delays on the Brexit negotiation. Is he aware that business groups across the country want certainty, to allow them to plan for the future? What discussions has he had with them to reassure them?
Withdrawal Agreement: Proposed Changes — House of Commons, 2019-10-07
Topic: International Affairs
James Philip Duddridge (Conservative, Centre-right): The legal text will come forward at the right time. The hon. Gentleman is critical of Tory Members for supporting the Prime Minister before seeing all the detail, but I would not be critical. Indeed, I suggest that my hon. Friends should always support the Prime Minister as a matter of default. I understand that SNP Members will be more sceptical, but they will have all the information in front of them before they are asked to vote. However, we will not provide the legal text if it gets in the way of the negotiations and the deal, which I think the hon. Gentleman would want.
Withdrawal Agreement: Proposed Changes — House of Commons, 2019-10-07
Topic: International Affairs
James Philip Duddridge (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank my hon. Friend for raising that point. Now is the time for a deal, but the way that the House has behaved has made a deal less likely and made it more likely that we will have no deal. However, it is not too late. The Government are reaching out across the Chamber to our friends on the other side, saying, "Join us in supporting a deal. It is the right thing for the country."
Withdrawal Agreement: Proposed Changes — House of Commons, 2019-10-07
Topic: International Affairs
Andrew Theakstone Percy (Conservative, Centre-right): I said from this spot a few weeks ago that it did not matter what the Government brought back, because there are Members in here representing leave seats who will always find a reason to vote against what the Government bring forward, because their real aim is to stop us leaving. Is it not the ultimate irony that the people who are giving the biggest croggy to a no-deal Brexit are the very people who repeatedly stand up and tell us that we have to vote for compromise but then vote against any compromise—any deal—that is put on the table?
Withdrawal Agreement: Proposed Changes — House of Commons, 2019-10-07
Topic: International Affairs
James Philip Duddridge (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend is right. That is a particular problem with the Liberal Democrats who, for perfectly respectable reasons, do not want a no-deal exit but who will not back a deal. It makes sense for us all to get behind a deal, which is better than no deal. That is what the Government want to do, and we reach out to all Members to support a deal.
Withdrawal Agreement: Proposed Changes — House of Commons, 2019-10-07
Topic: Foreign Trade
James Philip Duddridge (Conservative, Centre-right): The Government are looking for a tailored solution. Of all the trade between the UK and Northern Ireland, only 1% of goods cross the border. As well as trusted trader schemes, goods could be examined by authorities at commercial sites run by hauliers and freight forwarding companies. That is already provided for under existing transit rules, under which logistics services are commonly approved as authorised consignees for these very purposes. It already happens.
Withdrawal Agreement: Proposed Changes — House of Commons, 2019-10-07
Topic: International Affairs
James Philip Duddridge (Conservative, Centre-right): I acknowledge, as I think the whole House would, that we are working to a compressed timescale compared with the previous negotiations, but those negotiations were not successful. Following the same tack in our negotiating strategy and expecting a different result would be foolish. It is time for a change of tack in the negotiations, which I welcome.
Withdrawal Agreement: Proposed Changes — House of Commons, 2019-10-07
Topic: Environment
Victoria Mary Boswell Prentis (Conservative, Centre-right): As a member of the "MPs for a Deal" group, it would make my life easier if we were to include environmental and workers’ protections, as requested by many Opposition Members, but does the Minister agree that the right place for those protections is probably in the political declaration?
Withdrawal Agreement: Proposed Changes — House of Commons, 2019-10-07
Topic: Foreign Trade
James Philip Duddridge (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank my hon. Friend for her work with the "MPs for a Deal" group, which brings together MPs from across a number of political parties. I welcome her introduction of the political declaration, as getting that right will set the tone going forward from 1 November, after we have left on 31 October, and will form the basis of the future economic partnership and the first-in-class free trade agreement that most hon. Members want.
Withdrawal Agreement: Proposed Changes — House of Commons, 2019-10-07
Topic: Agriculture
James Philip Duddridge (Conservative, Centre-right): I can give the hon. Gentleman that confirmation, but I encourage him to discuss the detail with my colleagues at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. If that is not to his satisfaction, I will be happy to talk to him about fishing rights or impact at the same time.
Withdrawal Agreement: Proposed Changes — House of Commons, 2019-10-07
Topic: International Affairs
Rachel Helen Maclean (Conservative, Centre-right): Does my hon. Friend agree that it is the agenda of Members from the Opposition parties to overturn the referendum result, put a stop to Brexit and revoke article 50? Will he confirm that this Government and this Prime Minister will not let that happen?
Withdrawal Agreement: Proposed Changes — House of Commons, 2019-10-07
Topic: International Affairs
James Philip Duddridge (Conservative, Centre-right): With great sadness, I can confirm that I fear that some Members on the Opposition Benches and in this House simply do not want to follow the mandate of the British people. They do not want to exit and they will use every trick and turn in the book to frustrate. That is not to say that there are not some genuine concerns, and I recognise those, but she is right: some people, having offered the referendum to the electorate, do not like the result and are trying to interfere and overturn the democratic will of the public.
Withdrawal Agreement: Proposed Changes — House of Commons, 2019-10-07
Topic: International Affairs
Harriett Mary Morison Baldwin (Conservative, Centre-right): I love the way that Opposition parties are implying that if only they could see these documents, they would rush to support the deal. I think the British public are now wise to the way in which Parliament has frustrated the Government’s negotiating position. Would it be possible for the Government to strengthen their negotiating hand by holding a vote on these proposals, in the way that we did on the Brady amendment in January, and show that there is a majority in this place for them?
Withdrawal Agreement: Proposed Changes — House of Commons, 2019-10-07
Topic: International Affairs
James Philip Duddridge (Conservative, Centre-right): I think members of the public are getting wise to what is going on: this Government are trying to deliver Brexit and this Parliament, collectively, is trying to frustrate it. She raises the interesting solution of putting this to a vote, and I will discuss that with my ministerial colleagues.
Withdrawal Agreement: Proposed Changes — House of Commons, 2019-10-07
Topic: International Affairs
James Philip Duddridge (Conservative, Centre-right): I have already said that I will not comment on which documents I have and have not seen, or which versions I have and have not seen. This is a document that we are negotiating on. It makes sense to look at that document, negotiate on that document and come back to the House with a final document. This House does not want a blow-by-blow account; it wants to deliver a deal.
Withdrawal Agreement: Proposed Changes — House of Commons, 2019-10-07
Topic: International Affairs
Richard Grosvenor Plunkett-Ernle-Erle-Drax (Conservative, Centre-right): As has been said by honourable colleagues on the Government Benches, it is a well-known fact, and the public are not fooled, that most MPs in this place—in all positions in this place—do not want to leave the EU. That is a dishonourable stance to take, after the EU referendum. Will my hon. Friend reassure the public and us that we will honour this referendum and leave the EU, with or without a deal, on 31 October?
Withdrawal Agreement: Proposed Changes — House of Commons, 2019-10-07
Topic: International Affairs
James Philip Duddridge (Conservative, Centre-right): I can reassure the people of Dorset and the United Kingdom that we will be leaving on 31 October. Our preference is to do so with a deal, but we are very much ready to leave with no deal.
Withdrawal Agreement: Proposed Changes — House of Commons, 2019-10-07
Topic: International Affairs
Martin John Vickers (Conservative, Centre-right): Last week, the Leader of the Opposition said that no self-respecting Labour MP could vote for the proposals, yet we are now being pressed on a confidential document, the production of which would undermine yet again our negotiating position. Does the Minister agree that to reveal the documents would make no deal more likely?
Withdrawal Agreement: Proposed Changes — House of Commons, 2019-10-07
Topic: International Affairs
James Philip Duddridge (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank my hon. Friend for asking that question. No deal is indeed made more likely by the House not supporting the Government’s position. As for the Leader of the Opposition, I think that MPs and the public are coming around to the idea that he is flip-flopping on these issues left, right and centre, and want a general election so that they can re-elect a Government with a strong Conservative majority.
Withdrawal Agreement: Proposed Changes — House of Commons, 2019-10-07
Topic: Labor
Peter William Bone (Conservative, Centre-right): I wonder whether the Minister could help the House. Opposition Members say that they are not supporting a deal because they are worried about workers’ rights, yet if we had a deal, it would be this House that would decide on workers’ rights, and if they were ever in government, they could do whatever they liked. Can we conclude only that the Opposition do not think they will ever be in government?
Withdrawal Agreement: Proposed Changes — House of Commons, 2019-10-07
Topic: Labor
James Philip Duddridge (Conservative, Centre-right): I think everyone in the House believes in higher protections for workers’ rights and maintaining and expanding them over time. My hon. Friend makes an interesting point about the Opposition’s level of confidence; not only are they not confident that they will be in government to improve workers’ rights, but they do not seem to be confident that they will even win a general election. They are running scared of going back to the people because they know that they are trying to overturn the will of the people who wanted Brexit.
Withdrawal Agreement: Proposed Changes — House of Commons, 2019-10-07
Topic: International Affairs
James Philip Duddridge (Conservative, Centre-right): The right hon. Gentleman is right: we are in a constrained period and we are trying to do an unprecedented amount of work. Even separate to the problem of which he speaks directly, there are already many hurdles to get over, but we will work together with all our partners to re-form Stormont—that is our priority in relation to Northern Ireland—so that we can get this deal through.
Withdrawal Agreement: Proposed Changes — House of Commons, 2019-10-07
Topic: Environment
Victoria Grace Ford (Conservative, Centre-right): In the most recent general election, more Chelmsford constituents emailed me about the environment and animal welfare than about all other issues put together. I am enormously proud of the way in which the Government are leading the world on protecting the environment and on endangered species. Does my hon. Friend agree that the Lib Dem’s suggestion that this deal, which is to resolve the issues on the Irish border, could somehow be used to undermine our standards on the environment, animal welfare or workers’ rights is pure scaremongering and totally irresponsible?
Withdrawal Agreement: Proposed Changes — House of Commons, 2019-10-07
Topic: Environment
James Philip Duddridge (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank my hon. Friend for her question. We will maintain environmental and animal welfare standards. I know that she works tirelessly to improve those standards, both in Chelmsford and with Back Benchers. I remember many a campaign that she led in her time in the House of Commons, particularly on environmental issues, recycling, and changing behaviours and perceptions. I thank her for that work, and there is nothing in this process that means that we are going to go back on any of those commitments. In fact, the Government are committed to going further, as she has demanded.
Withdrawal Agreement: Proposed Changes — House of Commons, 2019-10-07
Topic: International Affairs
Julian Murray Lewis (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend the Minister had a strong outing on this subject on 26 September—a date that I happen to remember. Today, I noticed a subtle difference in his wording, as he talked about our leaving with a deal or being "prepared" to leave without a deal on 31 October. Will he confirm not only that we are prepared to leave without a deal on 31 October but that we will actually leave without a deal on 31 October, unless we have deal?
Withdrawal Agreement: Proposed Changes — House of Commons, 2019-10-07
Topic: International Affairs
James Philip Duddridge (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank my right hon. Friend, and confirm that nothing has changed since his birthday—I think that that was what he was referring to. Apologies for not congratulating him at the time. My language was not nuanced in any way. We will be leaving on 31 October with a deal or without a deal.
Withdrawal Agreement: Proposed Changes — House of Commons, 2019-10-07
Topic: Foreign Trade
Abimbola Afolami (Conservative, Centre-right): Will the Minister update the House on the volume of trade that would be subject to special customs arrangements that have attracted so much heat and light in discussions? Will he confirm that with good political will on both sides problems can be resolved?
Withdrawal Agreement: Proposed Changes — House of Commons, 2019-10-07
Topic: International Affairs
James Philip Duddridge (Conservative, Centre-right): Where there’s a will, there’s a way. People said that it was impossible that negotiations would reopen, but negotiations did effectively reopen after the Prime Minister spoke to President Macron and Chancellor Merkel, so I am optimistic. I am optimistic because negotiations are ongoing now: David Frost is in Brussels as we speak; my Secretary of State is travelling around, whipping up support and enthusiasm from other member states; and I understand that at around the time we are speaking—if not as we are speaking—the Prime Minister is on the phone to other Prime Ministers to whip up enthusiasm for the deal and avoid no deal. If only there were that much enthusiasm on the Opposition Benches.
Withdrawal Agreement: Proposed Changes — House of Commons, 2019-10-07
Topic: International Affairs
James Philip Duddridge (Conservative, Centre-right): To paraphrase a famous quotation: well, they would say that, wouldn’t they? EU representatives are negotiating. When we put papers in front of them, they are not going to say, "Gosh, this is wonderful. Thank you very much for making all these compromises. Let’s accept that wholeheartedly and send you back to celebrate." They are bound to probe and see how far the Prime Minister is going to go. We have already compromised significantly; this is a good solution in which the UK Government have made a number of compromises. It is now time for the EU Commission and member states to say that they are up for compromising as well.
Withdrawal Agreement: Proposed Changes — House of Commons, 2019-10-07
Topic: International Affairs
Andrew Campbell Bowie (Conservative, Centre-right): Does my hon. Friend share my frustration with the attitude of the Opposition parties, particularly the Scottish National party, who seem more intent on sowing discord and division in our United Kingdom, rather than acting in the national interest? If they really were working for the economy and peoples of our country, they would get behind the Government and support us as we try to get a deal to leave the EU in good order on 31 October.
Withdrawal Agreement: Proposed Changes — House of Commons, 2019-10-07
Topic: International Affairs
David James Duguid (Conservative, Centre-right): Does my hon. Friend agree that at least some SNP Members are simply attempting to undermine the progress that has already been made and that this Government are attempting to make towards a deal? Does he find it as worrying as I do that, when challenged on passing on the Brexit preparation funding to local authorities in Scotland, the First Minister said: "We should not be having to spend a single penny on Brexit preparations" Is that not taking a political view of Brexit preparations, rather than looking at what is good for the economy of Scotland?
Withdrawal Agreement: Proposed Changes — House of Commons, 2019-10-07
Topic: Transportation
Robert Goodwill (Conservative, Centre-right): Much nonsense has been spouted about the impracticalities of dealing with consignments when they reach their destination, rather than when they cross the border. Is it not the case that Britain’s biggest port by value operates on that basis already? Goods inbound to Heathrow airport do not stop at the border or near the border; they arrive at Heathrow and are dealt with there. Indeed, if the Minister were to visit the UPS hubs at East Midlands airport or in Cologne or Louisville, Kentucky, he would see tens of thousands of parcels crossing borders, with the duties, tariffs and VAT being dealt with in parallel with those goods travelling.
Withdrawal Agreement: Proposed Changes — House of Commons, 2019-10-07
Topic: Transportation
James Philip Duddridge (Conservative, Centre-right): My right hon. Friend served in the Department for Transport and knows these issues incredibly well. I look forward to talking to him in more detail about East Midlands airport and UPS, particularly because Southend airport is doing a little bit of transit of goods with Amazon. He is right that these things can happen without intricate checks.
Withdrawal Agreement: Proposed Changes — House of Commons, 2019-10-07
Topic: International Affairs
Michael James Tomlinson-Mynors (Conservative, Centre-right): The Minister was asked whether the Government are committed to publishing the details, but would that question not carry more weight if those on the Labour Front Bench had not already closed their minds? Within minutes of the deal being proposed last week, they said it was not good enough. Sadly, too many minds on the Opposition Benches—with honourable exceptions—are already closed. Is it not time to just get on with it?
Withdrawal Agreement: Proposed Changes — House of Commons, 2019-10-07
Topic: International Affairs
Kevin Paul Hollinrake (Conservative, Centre-right): In Michel Barnier’s speech in October last year, he said that a hard border in Northern Ireland needed to be avoided; that customs checks would be required, but they could happen using existing customs transit procedures; and that regulatory checks would need to increase, but they could continue to happen in the Irish sea. Does that not sound remarkably like the Prime Minister’s deal? Is it not time for the EU to negotiate in good faith, so that Members across the House can vote for this deal and we can leave on 31 October?