argyrotsipi/train-dataset huggingface dataset:
Scotland’s Foreign Policy Footprint — House of Commons, 2018-12-03
Topic: International Affairs
Stephen Patrick Gethins (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): I thank the hon. Gentleman for his intervention. If he had listened to my reference to Bannockburn, he would know that it was merely to give a historical illustration of why the cathedral at St Andrews was built 700 years ago. I think that, deep down inside, he accepts that—it was a historical illustration. If he wants to go back that far, I will indulge him, because I recently read about a new Hanseatic League being brought up in the European Union. That is an EU of successful independent member states talking about having a new Hanseatic League and about building strong, successful independent economies. The first thing that William Wallace did after declaring Scottish independence—if the hon. Gentleman wants to go back that far, and it was he who took us down this rabbit hole—was of course to apply to rejoin the Hanseatic League. Therefore, in many ways, we can learn from history, and the letter of Lübeck tells us that.
Scotland’s Foreign Policy Footprint — House of Commons, 2018-12-03
Topic: International Affairs
Alan Brown (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): While we are down that rabbit hole, is it not interesting that Scotland as a country had no debt until the Treaty of Union in 1707, nearly 400 years after Bannockburn, when it had to take on debt due to England’s foreign policy in foreign wars?
Scotland’s Foreign Policy Footprint — House of Commons, 2018-12-03
Topic: International Affairs
Stephen Patrick Gethins (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): I have very much enjoyed today. In fact, I have family connections to the Darien Gap. My brother-in-law was a hostage in the Darien for a year. It is where we need to learn from history and from what happened at the time. In terms of what happened to my own brother-in-law, I pay due credit to the Foreign Office and the help that was given to the family during that time. We also need to look to the future.
Scotland’s Foreign Policy Footprint — House of Commons, 2018-12-03
Topic: Education
Stephen Patrick Gethins (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): I thank my hon. Friend for his historical point As I have said, I do want to look to the future to our ambitions and opportunities. Let me turn to our education sector. Today, we see thousands of students, staff members and renowned academics from across the world come to Scotland. It would be remiss of me not to mention the very fine and much-missed Sir Neil MacCormick, the contribution that he made to international constitutional law and the reverence with which he is still held in many European countries—and badly missed he is, too The House will be unsurprised to learn that I am going to mention the University of St Andrews, which today hosted the head of MI6, Alex Younger, who studied at the university and chose it as the location at which to make a speech. Although he is a UK national, this reflects the fondness with which many former alumni and former staff hold St Andrews, as is the case with other Scottish universities. I particularly enjoyed the university’s "Internationally Scottish" campaign: 45% of the university’s staff and students are international, and this campaign recognises their connection with Scotland. That is an enormous asset, which I am sure is welcomed across the House. Like a number of my hon. Friends, I also recognise the fantastic NGO sector that thrives across Scotland, with organisations such as the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund, Mercy Corps, the HALO Trust and the John Smith Trust that have built up networks across the former Soviet Union and the middle east, providing a fantastic asset for our diplomats. Scotland is a soft superpower, but there is no point just being a soft superpower without looking at the practical areas where we should and can harness that power.
Scotland’s Foreign Policy Footprint — House of Commons, 2018-12-03
Topic: Education
Marion Fellows (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): As part of the Select Committee on Education, I went on a tour of a number of first-rate universities across the UK, and found exactly what my hon. Friend has just mentioned—soft power. Soft power will disappear if we leave the European Union, because it is about people coming to universities, in Scotland especially, who send back generations of students to put forward the Scottish enlightenment ideas.
Scotland’s Foreign Policy Footprint — House of Commons, 2018-12-03
Topic: Environment
Stephen Patrick Gethins (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): My hon. Friend makes an outstanding point; in fact, she makes my point for me. We should look at how we can harness soft power. I would like to know the Minister’s genuine thoughts on how we can work together, outwith the refines of Whitehall and traditional means of pursuing foreign policy This year, Westminster marks 10 years of the Climate Change Act 2008. Members across the House are right to celebrate that and the progress that has been made. It is up to us how we tackle this generation-defining issue—a point made by a number of Members during the G20 statement earlier, including my right hon. Friend the Member for Ross, Skye and Lochaber (Ian Blackford). Back in 2009, Scotland won plaudits across the world when it went further than Westminster with, at the time, the most far-reaching and ambitious climate change targets anywhere in the world, and that remains a priority for the Scottish Government.
Scotland’s Foreign Policy Footprint — House of Commons, 2018-12-03
Topic: Environment
Angela Crawley (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): Scotland’s leadership on climate change and ambitious action on reducing carbon emissions in 2009 were showcased in the Copenhagen summit. Whether on refugees and migrant issues, gender issues, human rights, social justice or the environment, Scotland is leading the way—ahead of the UK.
Scotland’s Foreign Policy Footprint — House of Commons, 2018-12-03
Topic: International Affairs
Christopher Murray Alexander Law (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): My hon. Friend is making a very valid point about what we can do postconflict. I had the opportunity, as part of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, to visit Sri Lanka to talk about Scotland’s contribution. I raised that very point about the Edinburgh agreement and how peaceful it was. Sadly, Sri Lanka has not yet come to terms with its recent past. However, I would just like to echo my hon. Friend’s point.
Scotland’s Foreign Policy Footprint — House of Commons, 2018-12-03
Topic: International Affairs
Angela Crawley (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): In terms of Scotland’s role in global citizenship, through its contribution to the UN’s sustainable development goals and its international development fund and strategy in Malawi, Rwanda, Zambia and Pakistan, Scotland has proven that it is an inclusive, outward-looking country that plays a vital role globally. Will my hon. Friend join me in urging the UK to follow our lead?
Scotland’s Foreign Policy Footprint — House of Commons, 2018-12-03
Topic: International Affairs
Stephen Patrick Gethins (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): I thank my hon. Friend for making that excellent point about the link to her constituency To return to my point about tackling foreign policy challenges in imaginative ways, the FCO should embrace the opportunities provided by devolution. I will quote more of Mark Muller Stuart’s article yesterday, in which he said: "The UK needs to support these types of initiatives. For as the utility of hard power declines,"— there can be no question but that it is declining— "and that of soft power increases, it ill-behoves any policymaker serious about improving the peace-making record of the UK not to recognise Scotland’s growing capacity to act. The positive values that underpin Scotland’s current civic nationalism and humanitarianism can only make it a greater force for good in the world, whatever its constitutional status turns out to be." It is important that we all reflect on that in a constructive, meaningful and responsible way. At a time when the UK is facing mammoth challenges, it truly needs all the help it can get. I ask the Minister to consider the arguments I have made and how we can work together across all these islands to tackle some of the foreign policy challenges that we have in common in more imaginative ways, to help in areas such as climate change and conflict transformation. Thank you for allowing me this time, Madam Deputy Speaker.
Scotland’s Foreign Policy Footprint — House of Commons, 2018-12-03
Topic: International Affairs
Stuart Campbell McDonald (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): On the point about visas and the importance of building diplomatic relations, could there be any more stark an example than that of the Moldovan diplomats who were refused visas for this country, which has set back the UK’s negotiations in relation to the World Trade Organisation?
Scotland’s Foreign Policy Footprint — House of Commons, 2018-12-03
Topic: International Affairs
Christopher Charles Stephens (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): Is not one of the most modern examples that of Glasgow being the first city in the United Kingdom to award freedom of the city to the late, great Nelson Mandela? That led to South Africa voting for Glasgow to host the Commonwealth games in my hon. Friend’s constituency.
Scotland’s Foreign Policy Footprint — House of Commons, 2018-12-03
Topic: International Affairs
David Melvyn Linden (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): My hon. Friend is absolutely spot on. I recall his early-day motion about Nelson Mandela, whom we and the people of Glasgow hold very dear. He is right to reference the Commonwealth games, which were an excellent opportunity for Glasgow and Scotland to build relationships with countries around the world. He is absolutely right to place that on record.
Scotland’s Foreign Policy Footprint — House of Commons, 2018-12-03
Topic: International Affairs
Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): I will be brief. I want to praise the excellent contributions from my hon. Friends the Members for North East Fife (Stephen Gethins) and for Glasgow East (David Linden). My hon. Friend the Member for North East Fife concentrated on the big picture: what Scotland as a nation and its institutions are doing to increase Scotland’s representation and foreign policy footprint in the world. What I would like to do, if I may, is look at individuals and small groups who are doing so much good in our communities. I mentioned earlier the role of Mary’s Meals. I make no apology for mentioning again its outstanding contribution across the world. It is currently feeding 1.3 million impoverished children every single day. I would like to recount a story. A couple of years ago, shortly after I became a Member of Parliament, I received a phone call from a constituent with whom I had previously had no contact whatever. She had just become a mother and was up late at night because her baby could not sleep. Her name is Fiona Bennett and she lives in Oban. She contacted me to say that while she was up with her child who could not sleep she was listening to Radio 4. The most awful story came on the radio about the plight of the Yazidi people. A young mother with a young baby listening to a horrific story on Radio 4, she was so moved by what she heard on a late night radio programme that she decided to contact her Member of Parliament to see if there was anything that I or we could do Fiona and I decided that we could and would do something. Within a few weeks, we had together organised for the now world-renowned Nadia Murad to come to the United Kingdom. I arranged a visa for Nadia to come to the UK and speak in Parliament. Together, we began to raise the profile of the Yazidi people in this place. Recently, Fiona raised £300,000-worth of medicines to be sent to Sinjar—£300,000-worth of medicines sent to some of the poorest and most vulnerable people on this planet. It was because of my connection with Fiona that we in this House, in the past fortnight, established an all-party group on the Yazidi people. I am delighted that the hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon) is a vice-chair of the group.
Scotland’s Foreign Policy Footprint — House of Commons, 2018-12-03
Topic: International Affairs
Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): My hon. Friend is absolutely right. I commend the David Livingstone Centre to anyone who has not been there. It is a marvellous opportunity for a day out; it is educational, informative and huge fun The Mid Argyll Malawi Twinning Group is there to increase understanding and to raise funds to help others. A couple of years ago, a team from the Mid Argyll churches visited Malawi, with enormous success. There seems to be a disproportionately large number of people in Argyll and Bute involved in helping Malawi, including the Imani Development Foundation in Oban, Netherlorn Churches and their "Seed for Life" campaign, and schools including Rothesay Academy, Dunoon Grammar School and the primary schools of Strone, Dalmally and Iona. The point I want to make is that although it is important that Governments get involved, and it is hugely important that NGOs get involved, let no one be in any doubt that without the involvement of individuals and without their stepping up and saying that they care and want to make a difference, none of this would be possible. Finally, let no one be in any doubt about the importance and success of people—individuals—getting involved, because if they do not get involved, I would argue that neither can NGOs or Governments.
Scotland’s Foreign Policy Footprint — House of Commons, 2018-12-03
Topic: International Affairs
Christopher Charles Stephens (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): Surely the crux of my hon. Friend’s argument is that there are constituents in every constituency in Scotland and the UK who care about foreign policy and want to address many of the injustices throughout the world.
Scotland’s Foreign Policy Footprint — House of Commons, 2018-12-03
Topic: International Affairs
Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): I thank my hon. Friend; that is a classic example. We are all in this together, whether that means individuals, businesses, NGOs or national Governments. We all have a part to play and we must play that part Finally, I again put on the record my sincere thanks to my hon. Friend the Member for North East Fife for securing this debate on Scotland’s foreign policy footprint. It is hugely important and extremely well timed. Belatedly, on behalf of everyone on the SNP Benches, I wish the House a very happy St Andrew’s day.
Scotland’s Foreign Policy Footprint — House of Commons, 2018-12-03
Topic: International Affairs
Stewart Hosie (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): My hon. Friend the Member for Dundee West (Chris Law) forgot to mention the international water law centre in Dundee University under the auspices of UNESCO. Does not all this demonstrate not only the wonderful and historic meanderings of William Wallace, whom we all admire, but—bringing us right up to date—that our foreign policy footprint is profound, useful and good in many places around the world?
Scotland’s Foreign Policy Footprint — House of Commons, 2018-12-03
Topic: International Affairs
Alan Brown (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): I do not thank my hon. Friend for that intervention William Wallace fought for Scotland’s freedom, but, on Scotland’s place in the world, he also recognised the need for diplomacy, and he himself travelled to Europe to conduct negotiations. Scotland’s history is littered with people defending the rights of Scotland but recognising the need to co-operate with other countries around the world That takes us to Robert the Bruce. He, too, recognised the need for diplomacy. After the Battle of Bannockburn, he lobbied the Pope and worked with other leaders to get Scotland rightfully recognised as an independent country. That eventually culminated in the treaty of Arbroath, the declaration of independence, which, in a wider context, is deemed to be the model and inspiration for the United States discussion. That is something else that Scotland has given the world.
Scotland’s Foreign Policy Footprint — House of Commons, 2018-12-03
Topic: International Affairs
Patrick John Grady (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): May I pursue the point made by our hon. Friend the Member for North East Fife (Stephen Gethins)? The declaration of Arbroath took the form of a letter to the Pope, recognising Scotland’s place in the world and recognising the Pope as, at the time, the highest global authority. Scotland’s taking its place in the world has always involved an internationalist rather than a simply nationalist outlook: our independence is about our interdependence with other countries.
Scotland’s Foreign Policy Footprint — House of Commons, 2018-12-03
Topic: International Affairs
Alan Brown (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): I agree. Of course, Scotland was always a trading nation, trading with the other European countries, and we want to maintain those trading links. That is another illustration of the concerns about Brexit. We have long been a European nation. Our vote in the EU referendum confirmed our European outlook, and we should not let that European outlook be taken away against the wishes of the Scottish people.
Scotland’s Foreign Policy Footprint — House of Commons, 2018-12-03
Topic: Foreign Trade
David Melvyn Linden (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): My hon. Friend is right to raise the issue of trade. We hosted Small Business Saturday recently. I do not necessarily want to speak about small businesses, but a serious issue would be posed for Scotland if the United Kingdom Government continued down this disastrous path of ripping us out of the single market and the customs union, and also if Northern Ireland were given special status. In that event, companies would obviously feel the need to invest in Belfast, which would give them unfettered access to the Republic of Ireland. My hon. Friend is right to express concern that Scotland’s status as a trading nation could be damaged as a result of the hard Brexit pursued by the Conservative party.
Scotland’s Foreign Policy Footprint — House of Commons, 2018-12-03
Topic: Foreign Trade
Christopher Charles Stephens (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): I thank my hon. Friend for mentioning the declaration of Arbroath and the links with the United States of America. Will he say a bit about why trade is important, given that 6 April is known in America as Tartan day?
Scotland’s Foreign Policy Footprint — House of Commons, 2018-12-03
Topic: Foreign Trade
Alan Brown (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): Let us take the principle of free trade. Free trade allows people to trade goods for the benefit of others. It helps to create and distribute wealth, as long as it takes place fairly and equitably. That is key to what we want from Brexit. We cannot afford to be under World Trade Organisation rules. We cannot afford to have a UK Government who will allow cheap imports that will undermine standards in the UK and undermine Scottish farming. Trade is indeed important, but it must be equitable and without prejudice to the parties involved.
Scotland’s Foreign Policy Footprint — House of Commons, 2018-12-03
Topic: International Affairs
Stewart Hosie (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): My hon. Friend is making an excellent speech, and he is being very generous in giving way. The title of the debate is "Scotland’s Foreign Policy Footprint", and he has made some serious points about that, but is not the foreign policy footprint also about the individual Scots who travel and share their emotions and their humanity around the world? Would not the best thing we could do for a "near" foreign policy footprint be to maintain the free movement of people, so that our children and grandchildren could enjoy the free movement throughout the European Union that we enjoy today?
Scotland’s Foreign Policy Footprint — House of Commons, 2018-12-03
Topic: Education
Alan Brown (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): No! Clearly, I do not accept my hon. Friend’s facts. I am sure that William Wallace was born in Ellerslie in Ayrshire Before I conclude, Mr Speaker, I want to go back to the village of Newmilns where I grew up. It was another of Scotland’s lace centres, and one of the companies there, Johnstone Shields, built a lace factory in Gothenburg. The guys went out there and founded Gothenburg FC. Effectively, they founded football in Sweden. They also founded a factory in Barcelona, and I would like to be able to claim that they founded Barcelona FC, but that is not quite true. They did found a football team in Barcelona, and it did play the mighty Barcelona FC. I am sure it taught Barcelona everything it needed to know to become the blueprint for the successful team of the future There have been other contributions from my constituency. Alexander Fleming was born in Darvel. He discovered penicillin, which has saved so many people around the world. Andrew Fisher, from Crosshouse, became Prime Minister of Australia, and Kilmarnock Academy is the only school in Scotland to have produced two Nobel prizewinners. As we said earlier, education is very important. Scotland has given a great many inventions to the world, but collaboration goes along with that, and we do not want Brexit to risk that collaboration in education and entrepreneurship around the world.
Scotland’s Foreign Policy Footprint — House of Commons, 2018-12-03
Topic: Social Welfare
Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): I commend the Minister’s aunt’s work. He may want to hold on to his hat, because I just read in the Scottish Catholic Observer—my former employer—that the UK Government announced today that any contribution to Mary’s Meals between now and 1 March will be doubled under the "Double the Love" campaign. I give credit where it is due, Minister.
Scotland’s Foreign Policy Footprint — House of Commons, 2018-12-03
Topic: International Affairs
Stephen Patrick Gethins (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): The Minister is quite right to commend officials in the Foreign Office. He mentioned "Inside the Foreign Office"; may I commend in particular those whom we saw advising the previous Foreign Secretary, the right hon. Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (Boris Johnson)? They were seen doing an excellent job in that programme. May I also welcome so many colleagues to the Chamber? It is a shame that they missed the entirety of the debate, but they are welcome nevertheless.
Scotland’s Foreign Policy Footprint — House of Commons, 2018-12-03
Topic: Foreign Trade
Christopher Murray Alexander Law (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): I want to ask the Minister a serious question. While we filibuster towards the end of this debate, which is of course what we are doing, I would like to make a point about trade envoys. I am looking at the Government’s record. Since 2012, they have had 32 trade envoys for 62 countries, and they are cross-party, yet the SNP is not included. Does the Minister agree with my suggestion that the SNP should be included, from this day forward? We look forward to our first trade envoys.
Scotland’s Foreign Policy Footprint — House of Commons, 2018-12-03
Topic: Government Operations
Carol Frances Monaghan (Scottish National Party, Centre-left): I thank the Minister for giving way. Does he agree that it is rather ironic that following a mere 15-minute debate on devolution in June, the UK Government are now dependent on talking about Scotland to save their necks?