argyrotsipi/train-dataset huggingface dataset:
Nuisance Calls — House of Commons, 2016-11-03
Topic: Social Welfare
David Nuttall (Conservative, Centre-right): Nuisance telephone calls are a modern menace, especially for the elderly. I am pleased to hear that the Government are taking more action. What will my right hon. Friend be doing to monitor whether the new action is actually being successful?
Local Charities Day — House of Commons, 2016-11-03
Topic: Social Welfare
Robert Owen Biggs Wilson (Conservative, Centre-right): Local Charities Day is an opportunity for all to celebrate small local charities across the country and for the Government to recognise the huge contribution that they make to local communities. Small charities make up 97% of the voluntary and community sector and have a massive impact, yet media attention usually focuses on the big players. Small local charities deserve much more recognition than they currently receive, and I encourage all hon. and right hon. Members to get involved on 16 December.
Local Charities Day — House of Commons, 2016-11-03
Topic: Social Welfare
Robert Owen Biggs Wilson (Conservative, Centre-right): I pay tribute to the Leyland Project, which does such great work in my hon. Friend’s constituency, and possibly elsewhere in Lancashire. The Bill represents yet another commitment that we are making to small local charities that will help to ensure that the gift aid small donations scheme is more accessible to small and new charities. It is expected to be worth an additional £15 million a year for the sector. That means £41 million a year from the small donation scheme, which, when added to gift aid of £1.3 billion a year, should help an awful lot of small charities.
Local Charities Day — House of Commons, 2016-11-03
Topic: Social Welfare
Robert Owen Biggs Wilson (Conservative, Centre-right): The right hon. Lady is absolutely right to mention the role of trustees, who do a fantastic job up and down the country supporting charities in their amazing work. The Government’s job is to help charities big and small to become more independent, resilient and sustainable. That is exactly what we intend to do.
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2016-11-03
Topic: International Affairs
Questions: Will my right hon. Friend support any of the home nations who choose to display a poppy next week to remember all those from every part of the world who sacrificed so much? Will she also pass on to FIFA the anger that there is in this House and among our constituents?
Karen Anne Bradley (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend is right. We stand right behind the FA and the Scottish FA in their decision to wear poppies. I will be at the match next week and I will make sure that I pass on those comments. It is absolutely right that home nations should, if they choose, wear poppies to commemorate those who sacrificed their lives, and I hope that FIFA will see sense and withdraw any threat of sanctions for those who do so.
Trading Relationships: Israel — House of Commons, 2016-11-03
Topic: Foreign Trade
Mark Robert Timothy Garnier (Conservative, Centre-right): The UK and Israel have a strong and important trading relationship, with nearly £6 billion in bilateral trade last year. The UK is the No. 1 destination for Israeli foreign direct investment in Europe, and there are now more than 300 Israeli companies established in the UK. I recently visited Israel to discuss investment and trade, and we will continue discussions on strengthening our important trade relationship.
Trading Relationships: Israel — House of Commons, 2016-11-03
Topic: International Affairs
Paul Stuart Scully (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank my hon. Friend for that answer. UK-Israel trade is at a record high, with strong ties in science and technology, cyber-security and medical science, but the terms are currently determined by the EU-Israel association agreement. Does he agree that our vote to leave the EU presents a great opportunity to strengthen co-operation between our countries, and will he update the House on progress on planning and securing a new post-Brexit deal with Israel?
Trading Relationships: Israel — House of Commons, 2016-11-03
Topic: Foreign Trade
Mark Robert Timothy Garnier (Conservative, Centre-right): We are taking advantage of all the opportunities presented to us to ensure that Britain becomes a truly global leader in free trade once we leave the EU, and that of course includes Israel, building on our strong relationship in areas such as research and development and cyber-security. For example, we have established the UK-Israel tech hub, which creates partnerships between British companies and world-class Israeli innovators.
Trading Relationships: Israel — House of Commons, 2016-11-03
Topic: International Affairs
Questions: One area in which the UK can strengthen its relationship with Israel is cyber, where Israel has 20% of the global market. Will the Minister welcome the UK-Israel cyber-physical initiative and say what is coming next?
Mark Robert Timothy Garnier (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Gentleman will know that the Government do frown on the illegal settlements in the Palestine territories. These are not helping with the peace process—they are standing as an obstacle—and the Government continue to promote the two-state solution to ensure that Palestine becomes a viable and sovereign nation.
Bilateral Trade Deals — House of Commons, 2016-11-03
Topic: Foreign Trade
Liam Fox (Conservative, Centre-right): While we remain members of the European Union, discussions we have are limited by our considerations of the common commercial policy and our duties of sincere co-operation. We cannot negotiate and conclude trade agreements while we are a member of the European Union, but we can have discussions on our future trading relationships. The UK will continue to be a champion for free trade, and back the EU’s current and ongoing negotiations.
Bilateral Trade Deals — House of Commons, 2016-11-03
Topic: International Affairs
Liam Fox (Conservative, Centre-right): No, because the European Union is not simply a trading organisation. Were it simply a trading, and not a political, organisation, the referendum result may have been different. One of the major problems with the European Union, and one of the reasons why the public voted to leave, was that there is such a strong supranational imposition on the United Kingdom.
Bilateral Trade Deals — House of Commons, 2016-11-03
Topic: Foreign Trade
Liam Fox (Conservative, Centre-right): We are a founding and full member of the WTO—there is no dispute about that. I think what the hon. Lady is referring to are the trading schedules under which we operate under the WTO, and, obviously, we will be in full discussions on those.
Bilateral Trade Deals — House of Commons, 2016-11-03
Topic: International Affairs
Liam Fox (Conservative, Centre-right): The Government are disappointed by the Court’s judgment. The country voted to leave the European Union in a referendum approved by Act of Parliament. The Government are determined to respect the result of the referendum. This judgment raises important and complex matters of law, and it is right that we consider it carefully before deciding how to proceed.
Trade Negotiations: Parliamentary Vote — House of Commons, 2016-11-03
Topic: Foreign Trade
Questions: What discussions he has had with the Leader of the House on Parliament debating and voting on the outcome of trade negotiations before they are signed.
Gregory William Hands (Conservative, Centre-right): As the hon. Lady will know, I am a great advocate of parliamentary scrutiny. The Department for International Trade is currently working to shape a more independent UK trade policy. Once we begin to negotiate trade agreements, Parliament will, of course, play its crucial role in ensuring that we deliver on our commitment to secure the best possible negotiation outcome for the whole of the UK.
Trade Negotiations: Parliamentary Vote — House of Commons, 2016-11-03
Topic: Foreign Trade
Questions: What discussions he has had with the Leader of the House on Parliament debating and voting on the outcome of trade negotiations before they are signed.
Gregory William Hands (Conservative, Centre-right): I think the hon. Lady is conflating and confusing two different statistics relating to those working on trade policy and those working on trade negotiations. The answer that I gave in the written answer is correct: the number of people working on trade policy in the Department has doubled since the Department’s creation in July.
Trade Negotiations: Parliamentary Vote — House of Commons, 2016-11-03
Topic: Foreign Trade
Questions: What discussions he has had with the Leader of the House on Parliament debating and voting on the outcome of trade negotiations before they are signed.
Edward Julian Egerton Leigh (Conservative, Centre-right): The truth is that this Parliament is, always has been and always will be sovereign, so Parliament could overcome any trade deal it wanted. The question we have to ask ourselves is whether Parliament should resist the will of the people.
Trade Negotiations: Parliamentary Vote — House of Commons, 2016-11-03
Topic: Foreign Trade
Questions: What discussions he has had with the Leader of the House on Parliament debating and voting on the outcome of trade negotiations before they are signed.
Gregory William Hands (Conservative, Centre-right): I first join you, Mr Speaker, in congratulating the right hon. Gentleman on achieving the yellow jersey. I thought for a moment that it was an internal Liberal Democrat award, in which case winning out of eight was perhaps not the greatest of achievements, but I commend him on what he has done I have nothing to add to what the Secretary of State said earlier, but I will say that, in general, we are very committed to consulting Parliament on the future of trade agreements, which is the subject of the question on the Order Paper.
Trade Negotiations: Parliamentary Vote — House of Commons, 2016-11-03
Topic: International Affairs
Questions: What discussions he has had with the Leader of the House on Parliament debating and voting on the outcome of trade negotiations before they are signed.
Gregory William Hands (Conservative, Centre-right): I entirely agree with my hon. Friend. I campaigned for the remain side on 23 June, but nevertheless I fundamentally and totally agree that Brexit means Brexit. This Government are getting on with delivering and making sure that it works for the whole of the United Kingdom.
EU Customs Union — House of Commons, 2016-11-03
Topic: Foreign Trade
Questions: What assessment he has made of the international trade opportunities available to the UK in the event of the UK leaving the EU customs union.
Liam Fox (Conservative, Centre-right): There are a number of errors in what the hon. Gentleman has said. The EU currently has 36 free trade agreements covering more than 50 countries. It is entirely possible for us to be able to transition those into UK agreements and we are free to discuss them with countries while we are still a member of the European Union. Our aim will be to have minimum disruption of trade and no gap in market access for British companies.
EU Customs Union — House of Commons, 2016-11-03
Topic: Foreign Trade
Questions: What assessment he has made of the international trade opportunities available to the UK in the event of the UK leaving the EU customs union.
Richard Quentin Fuller (Conservative, Centre-right): Although I welcome the Canadian-EU trade agreement, does my right hon. Friend share my concerns at the elements of protectionism that have emerged in this agreement? Do they not indicate that there are advantages to the United Kingdom outside the customs union in negotiating its own deals more rapidly, in defence of free trade?
EU Customs Union — House of Commons, 2016-11-03
Topic: Foreign Trade
Questions: What assessment he has made of the international trade opportunities available to the UK in the event of the UK leaving the EU customs union.
Liam Fox (Conservative, Centre-right): In recent history, most of the trade deals done in the world have been bilateral, because it is clearly easier to get country-to-country agreement. One of the reasons why the European Union does not have an agreement with the United States, China, Japan, India or the Gulf is that it is rather difficult to negotiate with 28 different partners, especially if they retain a veto.
EU Customs Union — House of Commons, 2016-11-03
Topic: Foreign Trade
Questions: What assessment he has made of the international trade opportunities available to the UK in the event of the UK leaving the EU customs union.
Liam Fox (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right. The creative industries are incredibly important, and one of the jobs of the Department for International Trade is to promote them. When we take trade delegations abroad and when we make representations to other Governments, we will fully take those industries into account. Where we have got areas of excellence in our economy, we need to promote them—sometimes more than we have done in the past.
EU Customs Union — House of Commons, 2016-11-03
Topic: Foreign Trade
Questions: What assessment he has made of the international trade opportunities available to the UK in the event of the UK leaving the EU customs union.
Richard Michael John Ogilvie Graham (Conservative, Centre-right): The Secretary of State knows about the growing opportunities for trade and investment, in both directions, with the countries of south-east Asia. Does he agree that next year’s 50th anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations offers a great chance for the UK to demonstrate what a superb international platform we can be for all those countries’ exports and investment in both directions? Will he commit to DIT offering some finance to help this great session to go well?
EU Customs Union — House of Commons, 2016-11-03
Topic: Foreign Trade
Questions: What assessment he has made of the international trade opportunities available to the UK in the event of the UK leaving the EU customs union.
Liam Fox (Conservative, Centre-right): I will certainly offer a great deal of help and goodwill. Mindful of the forthcoming autumn statement, I am not going to offer any sort of finance in advance of the Chancellor’s permission being granted May I say what a great job my hon. Friend the Member for Gloucester (Richard Graham) does as one of our trade envoys? Our trade envoys have contributed hugely to our recent export gains. He makes the important point that trade has to operate in both directions, both in exports and imports and in outward and inward investment. It is very important that we maintain a balance if we are to have a chance of reducing our current account deficit.
Trading Opportunities Abroad — House of Commons, 2016-11-03
Topic: Foreign Trade
Gregory William Hands (Conservative, Centre-right): We want more British businesses to take advantage of trade opportunities. Currently, only 11% of British businesses export. Our overseas teams continue to help British businesses to win opportunities in 108 different markets, with 190 high-value priority campaigns.
Trading Opportunities Abroad — House of Commons, 2016-11-03
Topic: Foreign Trade
Alan Mak (Conservative, Centre-right): British businesses benefit from the expertise of our embassies and consulates when seeking trading opportunities abroad. I saw that for myself at first hand while I was in Hong Kong over the summer. Will the Minister continue to back British businesses to gain market access by supporting our missions overseas?
Trading Opportunities Abroad — House of Commons, 2016-11-03
Topic: Foreign Trade
Gregory William Hands (Conservative, Centre-right): I certainly will. My hon. Friend and I had a productive conversation just last week following his successful visit to Hong Kong. The Under-Secretary of State for International Trade, my hon. Friend the Member for Wyre Forest (Mark Garnier) was also in Hong Kong last month, and we are absolutely committed to using our networks and our professionals overseas to boost both trade and investment.
Trading Opportunities Abroad — House of Commons, 2016-11-03
Topic: Foreign Trade
Gregory William Hands (Conservative, Centre-right): I know my hon. Friend’s passion for life sciences, and particularly for AstraZeneca’s key role in his constituency. We are liaising and working closely with the industry with an important working group, which has met on several occasions and recently briefed Ministers. We want, of course, the best possible arrangements for trade in all goods and services, including the pharmaceutical sector.
Trading Opportunities Abroad — House of Commons, 2016-11-03
Topic: Foreign Trade
Michelle Emma May Elizabeth Donelan (Conservative, Centre-right): UK Trade & Investment has been very helpful to businesses in my constituency, but there are still many small businesses that need help and support to export and utilise the exchange rate of the pound. Would the Minister advocate UKTI holding events in Wiltshire and around the country to achieve that?
Trading Opportunities Abroad — House of Commons, 2016-11-03
Topic: Foreign Trade
Gregory William Hands (Conservative, Centre-right): Yes, we are very open-minded about doing events on either a county or a constituency basis. I am open-minded about how that might best be pursued. We have regional teams in the Department for International Trade, but if my hon. Friend and I were to have a discussion, particularly about what we may be able to do in Chippenham, I would be all ears.
Trading Opportunities Abroad — House of Commons, 2016-11-03
Topic: Foreign Trade
Gregory William Hands (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Gentleman and I used to spar regularly on Treasury matters. I congratulate him on his election to the International Trade Committee. I look forward to appearing before him in due course. He will know that our priority is to maintain the maximum possible access to the single market across all these sectors.
Trading Opportunities Abroad — House of Commons, 2016-11-03
Topic: Foreign Trade
Gregory William Hands (Conservative, Centre-right): Of course we will listen to proposals and suggestions made by the Scottish Government. The Prime Minister has been absolutely clear on that. However, as we are talking about icebergs, perhaps the hon. Lady will reflect on one thing: 64% of goods leaving Scotland are destined for the rest of the United Kingdom. When it comes to a single market, I think she might prioritise that single market, rather than the one in which only 15% of goods go to the European Union.
Trading Opportunities Abroad — House of Commons, 2016-11-03
Topic: Foreign Trade
Gregory William Hands (Conservative, Centre-right): May I welcome the hon. Gentleman to the Front Bench? It is good to see that the hon. Member for Brent North (Barry Gardiner) has some reinforcements this week. I notice that he has lost three of his four portfolios since he last appeared in the Chamber, so it is good to see other hon. Members helping him out I attended an event with the Japanese ambassador only this week. He was clear about the role that Japan plays and that Britain plays in promoting global free trade and global free markets. That is rather in contrast to the hon. Gentlemen’s leader calling free trade a "dogma", which I think should be condemned.
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2016-11-03
Topic: Foreign Trade
Liam Fox (Conservative, Centre-right): The Department for International Trade has three tasks: promoting UK exports to support a growing economy that serves the whole country; maximising opportunities for wealth creation, including through overseas direct investment to support the current account; and negotiating the best international trading framework for the UK outside the EU. Like the UK, my Department is open for business. Following my statement at our previous session of departmental questions, we received 111 applicants, in an international competition, for the post of permanent secretary, and we will shortly announce the successful candidate.
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2016-11-03
Topic: Foreign Trade
Amanda Anne Milling (Conservative, Centre-right): As a country, we need to export more. There are a lot of barriers to overcome to get businesses to start exporting or even to consider exporting, but we have a real opportunity to get existing exporters to export to more markets. Will my right hon. Friend outline the measures that the Government are taking to encourage and support small and medium-sized businesses to expand the number of markets to which they export?
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2016-11-03
Topic: Foreign Trade
Liam Fox (Conservative, Centre-right): I apologise for taking longer than usual to get to the Dispatch Box, Mr Speaker—the last time I take my own advice about going to the gym to get fit. It is important to get more small and medium-sized enterprises exporting. If we look at the UK’s performance we see that only 27% of our GDP is accounted for by exports, whereas for Germany it is 48%. A lot of that difference is accounted for by a lack of SME exports. We will be announcing a range of measures soon, and there will be a pack setting out those measures available for all Members of Parliament so that we can all help the SMEs in our own constituencies.
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2016-11-03
Topic: International Affairs
Liam Fox (Conservative, Centre-right): There will be numerous opportunities for the House to examine and discuss what the Government are negotiating. When we are clear about the position we will adopt, article 50 will be triggered, but given the nature of the judgment this morning we will now have to await the Government’s appeal to the Supreme Court.
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2016-11-03
Topic: Foreign Trade
Questions: Will the Secretary of State let us know whether, in his discussions with countries that have trade agreements with the EU, those countries have indicated their interest in continuing such arrangements with the UK when we leave?
Liam Fox (Conservative, Centre-right): As I said earlier, the EU has some 36 free trade agreements, which cover more than 50 countries. A very large number of those have already made representations to the United Kingdom to say that they would like those agreements to continue. We will explore and discuss that, because, as I have said, our aim is to have no break in access to markets and to achieve the transition as smoothly as possible, with minimal disruption to the international trading environment.
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2016-11-03
Topic: Foreign Trade
Questions: Will the Secretary of State let us know whether, in his discussions with countries that have trade agreements with the EU, those countries have indicated their interest in continuing such arrangements with the UK when we leave?; The EU trade deal with South Korea has reduced the tariff on scotch whisky to zero, while whisky imported to Korea from elsewhere faces a tariff of 20%. Does the Minister agree with the Foreign Secretary’s new adviser, David Frost—a former chief executive of the Scotch Whisky Association—who has said that we are much more likely to get such deals“with the weight of the whole of the EU behind us than we are in a negotiation nationally”?
Liam Fox (Conservative, Centre-right): I take an intense personal interest in this area, from long experience. I am delighted to see David Frost in his new position—he was so pleased with our policy he joined the company. It is very important that we get reductions in tariffs. One issue I will be raising in India next week is the very high level of tariff against scotch whisky there, to see whether we can make major reductions.