argyrotsipi/train-dataset huggingface dataset:
Calais — House of Commons, 2016-10-24
Topic: Immigration
Amber Rudd (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank my hon. Friend for his support. He is absolutely right: the ending of that camp is in the interests of everyone in this country as well as in France. We believe that, as he said, only 10% of those in the camp are women, and we are prioritising them because they are the most likely people to be vulnerable to sexual exploitation. Currently, about a third of our intake are women, which is a positive result by comparison with the 10% figure.
Calais — House of Commons, 2016-10-24
Topic: Immigration
Amber Rudd (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Lady is quite right. It is essential that we maintain, as far as possible, the anonymity of the young people who are coming over here. One reason for that, which was pointed out to me, is that it is claimed by smugglers and traffickers that some of those young people—particularly the young women—owe them money, and if they see the pictures, they may come after them. We must keep them safe by keeping their faces discreet and their locations secret.
Calais — House of Commons, 2016-10-24
Topic: Immigration
Amber Rudd (Conservative, Centre-right): I agree with my right hon. Friend that returns are an important part of a strong immigration policy. We are constantly working with other countries to ensure that consent can be established, and demonstrating that that is in their interest as well as ours.
Calais — House of Commons, 2016-10-24
Topic: Immigration
Amber Rudd (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Gentleman is welcome to send me any information that he has. However, over the past few days there have been cases in which we have expected children to be available to board the bus to come to the UK, and sometimes non-governmental organisations themselves have been surprised not to have been able to find them. The position is not quite as straightforward as we wish it were; but I hope that, following the changes in the camp whereby all the children will be in one secure area, it will be more straightforward, when we have made a commitment to bring a child here, for us to do so without its being impossible to find them on the day.
Calais — House of Commons, 2016-10-24
Topic: Mixed Topics
Amber Rudd (Conservative, Centre-right): We are always grateful for the generous way in which local authorities come forward, and for their positive response to our call for their support. I particularly thank West Sussex County Council for the good work that it has been doing, notably in hosting one of the dispersal centres. We will of course work closely with the council to ensure that that good relationship continues.
Calais — House of Commons, 2016-10-24
Topic: Mixed Topics
Amber Rudd (Conservative, Centre-right): We do not always have all the information that we need. One of the reasons why the full cohort of nearly 200 "Dublin" children has not yet been brought over is that we have not been able to establish where their close family members are. It is possible—this is an issue to which the hon. Lady has particularly drawn attention—that the close family members who have been claimed, and have been contacted before the children have been brought over, are no longer quite as contactable once the local authority is trying to address the situation. As I have said to other Members, this can be a complicated process, and it is not always straightforward to follow up the contacts that we have been given. However, if the hon. Lady wants to send me a particular example, I will of course look at it.
Calais — House of Commons, 2016-10-24
Topic: Immigration
David John Barrington Burrowes (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank the Home Secretary for her close attention to and compassion towards child refugees in Calais, and for her talk of a humanitarian operation. When I was there in February witnessing the partial demolition, it was far from humanitarian. Can the Home Secretary confirm again that the camp shelter will be sufficient to accommodate all child refugees if the French authorities do not accept the French Red Cross offer of a child centre? Will she truly be able to ensure that children who are dispersed across child accommodation centres across France will be accommodated, particularly those in respect of whom we have a legal duty under Dubs and Dublin?
Calais — House of Commons, 2016-10-24
Topic: Immigration
Amber Rudd (Conservative, Centre-right): The only reassurance that I can give my hon. Friend is the reassurance that I have been given by the French. We have particularly asked them to ensure that the children are kept in a secure area, and our request was that it should be, potentially, outside the camp. They chose to keep the children inside the camp, reassuring us that they could keep them secure there. We are in close contact: we now have a large number of Home Office representatives in the camp, as well as the hundreds of Border Force staff who are in the area. We are hopeful that we will be able to work closely with them to keep the children safe. Ultimately, however, this is a French responsibility, although we are giving the French all the support that we can.
Calais — House of Commons, 2016-10-24
Topic: Immigration
Amber Rudd (Conservative, Centre-right): In this case, while the camps are being demolished, we have made a commitment to take the most vulnerable children, and within that cohort of children, the ones who are youngest and those who are vulnerable to sexual exploitation. On the question of other people who might be vulnerable, there might be one or two who qualify under the Dublin amendment, but otherwise people will need to apply for asylum in the normal way in France. We must stick to the generally accepted principle, which the UK supports, of applying for asylum in the first country of safety.
Calais — House of Commons, 2016-10-24
Topic: Immigration
Matthew Robert Warman (Conservative, Centre-right): A number of my constituents have got in touch with me to express their compassion for those in the Jungle camp, but a number are also worried about the age of those who we are being seen to take. Can the Home Secretary tell us a little more about the numbers that we are rejecting on the grounds of age, and also about the comprehensive security package relating to those we take in the first place?
Calais — House of Commons, 2016-10-24
Topic: Immigration
Sue-Ellen Cassiana Braverman (Conservative, Centre-right): I welcome the Home Secretary’s statement. Prior to my election to this place, I regularly defended the Home Office in immigration and asylum cases. It is widely accepted by many judges and practitioners that age assessment of undocumented children is notoriously difficult and not an exact science. Indeed, the rise in the number of cases in the administrative court reflects that fact. Will my right hon. Friend confirm that dental checks are not an appropriate method of age assessment? Does she agree that considerable guidance exists in case law and as a result of the practices of the London Boroughs of Croydon and Hillingdon, which have now been adopted throughout the country, which suggests that listening to a child’s history, observing their behaviour and hearing their live evidence are much better indicators than physical maturity?
Calais — House of Commons, 2016-10-24
Topic: Immigration
Amber Rudd (Conservative, Centre-right): I know that my hon. Friend has substantial experience in this field, having acted as an immigration lawyer before coming into Parliament. She is absolutely right to say that the best way to assess age is to use experienced assessors, and we will continue to do that. The British Dental Association has said that dental checks are not the way to go, because they are ineffective and unreliable. The best way is to use the type of assessment that we are using, which is based on experience.
Calais — House of Commons, 2016-10-24
Topic: Immigration
Philip Thomas Hollobone (Conservative, Centre-right): I know that the situation is fluid and fast moving, and the Home Secretary has said that her officials have been hard at work in the past week. She says that they have conducted 800 interviews and that 200 children have been admitted to the UK. First, how far through the process are we, and how many more applications does she expect her staff to process? Secondly, is that ratio of one acceptance for every four applications a ratio that we are likely to see continue? [Interruption.]
Calais — House of Commons, 2016-10-24
Topic: Other
John Simon Bercow (Conservative, Centre-right): Somebody is chuntering about the fact that the hon. Gentleman has had two questions, but I have to say, in fairness to him, that it takes him less time to ask two questions than it takes a lot of people to ask one.
Calais — House of Commons, 2016-10-24
Topic: Immigration
Amber Rudd (Conservative, Centre-right): I have to say to my hon. Friend that that is not quite how it is working out. The 200 are largely made up of the Dublin regulation children, which means that they have a strong family tie in the UK. About a quarter of them are Dubs children. The balance of the additional children we will take will also be Dubs children. Not all of the 800 who have been interviewed will be coming to the UK; we are just processing their claims. There will be another 200 to 300 to interview, and we hope to reach a figure of a few hundred more over the next two to three weeks while the camp is being cleared. We will then have fulfilled our commitment to the French, which we hope will involve approximately half the children who were there.
Health Service Medical Supplies (Costs) Bill — House of Commons, 2016-10-24
Topic: Other
Kevin John Foster (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Gentleman tempts me, but I see you are now in the Chair, Mr Deputy Speaker, and you are very tough on any irrelevant points or points off subject, so that could be very dangerous territory.
Flood Defences — House of Commons, 2016-11-24
Topic: Public Lands
Questions: What estimate her Department has made of the number of properties that will be better protected by the Government’s investment in flood defences up to 2021.
Andrea Jacqueline Leadsom (Conservative, Centre-right): Mr Speaker, with your permission, may I take this opportunity to thank the emergency services, the Environment Agency and all who helped with the recent flooding? Our thoughts are with those who have been affected. Our £2.5 billion six-year capital floods programme to improve flood defences will provide better protection for at least 300,000 homes in the six-year period from 2015 to 2021.
Flood Defences — House of Commons, 2016-11-24
Topic: Mixed Topics
Questions: What estimate her Department has made of the number of properties that will be better protected by the Government’s investment in flood defences up to 2021.
Andrea Jacqueline Leadsom (Conservative, Centre-right): As an ex-Tonbridge Grammar School girl, I know the area well. The Environment Agency is progressing business cases to increase the capacity of the live flood storage area on the River Medway, alongside new schemes at Hildenborough and East Peckham. The agency has estimated that these schemes qualify for a £15.5 million Government grant in aid. If approved, this will better protect more than 1,900 properties in the Medway catchment.
Flood Defences — House of Commons, 2016-11-24
Topic: Housing
Questions: What estimate her Department has made of the number of properties that will be better protected by the Government’s investment in flood defences up to 2021.
Andrea Jacqueline Leadsom (Conservative, Centre-right): Absolutely. Of course, it is important that we take into account the protection of new homes being built—that is what the Environment Agency does, as a key stakeholder in all planning decisions—and it is absolutely our intention to make sure that new developments are better protected.
Flood Defences — House of Commons, 2016-11-24
Topic: Public Lands
Questions: What estimate her Department has made of the number of properties that will be better protected by the Government’s investment in flood defences up to 2021.
Richard Benyon (Conservative, Centre-right): Given that more than 5 million homes are at flood risk in Britain, is it not important that the Department continues its excellent work, not just in building flood defences with concrete, steel and earthworks, but in looking at how nature and land managers can be incentivised to create greater protection for households?
Flood Defences — House of Commons, 2016-11-24
Topic: Public Lands
Questions: What estimate her Department has made of the number of properties that will be better protected by the Government’s investment in flood defences up to 2021.
Andrea Jacqueline Leadsom (Conservative, Centre-right): Yes, my hon. Friend is quite right. There are concrete barriers, which are very important, and we have had 130 new schemes since January, better protecting 55,000 homes. However, natural flood management—slowing the flow, and looking at ways to work with the contours of our environment to improve protection—is also vital. I can announce that we have been given £15 million to invest in further projects to do just that.
Flood Defences — House of Commons, 2016-11-24
Topic: Public Lands
Questions: What estimate her Department has made of the number of properties that will be better protected by the Government’s investment in flood defences up to 2021.
Andrea Jacqueline Leadsom (Conservative, Centre-right): My right hon. Friend knows a great deal about this subject, and she will be aware that the resilience review, which we undertook across Government, contained an enormous amount of remodelling of the likely impacts of increasingly extreme weather events. Of course, the Environment Agency is always looking not just at what schemes can protect people better, but at where the best types of flood protection can be developed, whether through concrete barriers or natural flood protection.
Flood Defences — House of Commons, 2016-11-24
Topic: Public Lands
Questions: What estimate her Department has made of the number of properties that will be better protected by the Government’s investment in flood defences up to 2021.
Andrea Jacqueline Leadsom (Conservative, Centre-right): As I have already mentioned, this Government have in fact committed £2.5 billion to new flood defences in the six years to 2021. Just this year, since January 2016, we have had 130 new flood schemes completed, protecting a further 55,000 homes. We have also enormously increased our temporary flood defences and all our infrastructure capabilities. including incident control vehicles, light towers, pumps, sandbags and so on, to try to deal with the unpredictable nature of these extreme weather events, but we are committed to doing more.
Rural Economy: Leaving the EU — House of Commons, 2016-11-24
Topic: Mixed Topics
Thérèse Anne Coffey (Conservative, Centre-right): Rural areas account for a quarter of all registered businesses in England. Small businesses continue to be an important part of the rural economy, with 29% of those employed in rural areas employed in small businesses that have one to nine employees. Leaving the EU gives us an opportunity to have policies to support the rural economy that are bespoke to the needs of this country.
Rural Economy: Leaving the EU — House of Commons, 2016-11-24
Topic: Mixed Topics
Questions: Does the Minister agree that in addition to the effect on the rural economy, leaving the EU will enable us to take back control of animal product imports without the EU wildlife trade regulations impinging on us? Will she look at stricter regulations for lion trophy imports?
Thérèse Anne Coffey (Conservative, Centre-right): I attended the convention on international trade in endangered species in September this year, when we secured greater scrutiny of trade in trophies to ensure the sustainability of lion exports. We already have suspensions in place for some countries where hunting cannot be considered sustainable at the current time. For example, we are refusing imports of lions and lion trophies from Mozambique, apart from animals hunted in the Niassa reserve, where hunting is considered to be well managed and sustainable.
Rural Economy: Leaving the EU — House of Commons, 2016-11-24
Topic: Mixed Topics
Questions: Does the Minister agree that in addition to the effect on the rural economy, leaving the EU will enable us to take back control of animal product imports without the EU wildlife trade regulations impinging on us? Will she look at stricter regulations for lion trophy imports?; Will Ministers confirm that in the Brexit negotiations, the Government will focus on promoting efficient and competitive British farming, enabling farmers to reinvest in the countryside and the environment, rather than funding what my Cheshire farmers call costly and complicated bureaucratic schemes?
Neil Carmichael (Conservative, Centre-right): Does the Minister agree that if we are to make a realistic attempt at becoming economically productive, we have to make sure that our infrastructure works—and that includes the internet? Small businesses in rural areas would be able to thrive if it did.
Food and Drink Sector — House of Commons, 2016-11-24
Topic: Other
John Simon Bercow (Conservative, Centre-right): It is an indescribable delight to see the right hon. Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove). My surprise was merely at the fact that he has perambulated to a different part of the Chamber from that which he ordinarily inhabits. I am sure that we will enjoy the same eloquence as usual.
Milk — House of Commons, 2016-11-24
Topic: Mixed Topics
Charles George Eustice (Conservative, Centre-right): As the hon. Gentleman will know, there is a small European Union scheme to support school milk, which is worth a few million pounds, but it is dwarfed by the much larger, much more important nursery milk scheme run by the Department for Education and the Department of Health, which is worth some £60 million a year.
Winter Flooding — House of Commons, 2016-11-24
Topic: Public Lands
Thérèse Anne Coffey (Conservative, Centre-right): We have completed 130 new flood schemes this year, protecting over 55,000 households. All but three of the 660 Environment Agency flood defences damaged last winter have now been repaired and the three remaining assets have contingency plans in place. The Environment Agency recently launched its flood awareness campaign and last month we launched the property level resilience action plan on how householders can protect their homes from flooding. It also details measures that will allow them to get back into their home more quickly if they are, unfortunately, flooded.
Winter Flooding — House of Commons, 2016-11-24
Topic: Public Lands
Martin John Vickers (Conservative, Centre-right): The Minister may recall that in December 2013 there was a tidal surge that affected the Humber estuary. Many of my constituents had their homes flooded, and throughout the Humber hundreds were affected. Can the Minister reassure me that there will be no slippage in future flood defence spending on the Humber?
Winter Flooding — House of Commons, 2016-11-24
Topic: Public Lands
Thérèse Anne Coffey (Conservative, Centre-right): The 2013 tidal surge affected the entire east coast, including my constituency. I can assure my hon. Friend that the schemes already planned will continue given the record £2.5 billion investment this Government are making in flood defences.
Winter Flooding — House of Commons, 2016-11-24
Topic: Mixed Topics
Thérèse Anne Coffey (Conservative, Centre-right): I recognise that water companies are not currently a statutory consultee, but that does not stop them having conversations. The Environment Agency continues to provide advice on all planning applications, and in 98% of planning applications across England its advice is accepted.
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2016-11-24
Topic: Public Lands
Andrea Jacqueline Leadsom (Conservative, Centre-right): Flooding is devastating for anyone who experiences it, and I have spent a great deal of time recently ensuring that we have the best possible preparation for the winter weather. There will be opportunities for all colleagues to play our part in ensuring that our constituents are as well prepared as possible—for example, by getting them to sign up to the Environment Agency’s free Flood Warnings Direct service or to visit the Floods Destroy website, which enables people to check their own flood risk. The Environment Agency will also be hosting a drop-in session for parliamentarians next Tuesday from 1 pm to 5 pm in Committee Room 9, where we will be able to hear more about winter preparedness.
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2016-11-24
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Questions: Is the fisheries Minister aware that the shell fishery in the Wash is now the most prolific in Europe? We have recently seen record catches of shrimp, much of which is exported. However, this part of the fishery is at risk because of a permit system. Will he look into the situation, intervene and do his best to ensure that the fishery continues to thrive?
Charles George Eustice (Conservative, Centre-right): Having ironed out some of the difficulties we encountered in 2015, we are in a stronger position this year. The RPA reports that over 80% of basic payment scheme claims were submitted online, meaning that the number of cases requiring manual data-entry was significantly reduced. If my hon. Friend would like to give me further details of those two cases, I will ensure that they are investigated and will personally get back to him.
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2016-11-24
Topic: Mixed Topics
Questions: Is the fisheries Minister aware that the shell fishery in the Wash is now the most prolific in Europe? We have recently seen record catches of shrimp, much of which is exported. However, this part of the fishery is at risk because of a permit system. Will he look into the situation, intervene and do his best to ensure that the fishery continues to thrive?; In the weeks immediately after the floods that devastated my constituency and others last year, the Government were able to argue that there was no evidence of market failure to deliver affordable insurance for businesses affected by the flood. Since then, however, I have had case after case of businesses being denied insurance or offered unaffordable packages. What are the Government doing to ensure that such businesses can secure affordable insurance?
Thérèse Anne Coffey (Conservative, Centre-right): Since the floods, small and medium-sized enterprises have received over £6 million of direct support from the Government to help with their resilience. On insurance, I recently met representatives of the British Insurance Brokers Association and expect them to be launching new products next month so that more businesses can get flood insurance.
Persecution of Christians — House of Commons, 2016-11-24
Topic: Civil Rights
Caroline Alice Spelman (Conservative, Centre-right): The Church of England remains concerned about a number of religious minorities across the world, not just Christian ones. Recently, the Lord Bishop of Coventry travelled to northern Iraq to visit the Christians in Mosul because it is clear that questions remain about their continued safety and the need to make their homes and businesses safe if they are to sustain themselves there.
Persecution of Christians — House of Commons, 2016-11-24
Topic: Mixed Topics
Robert John Blackman (Conservative, Centre-right): What representations has my right hon. Friend received in relation to the persecution of Christians in Iran? Last week, we had a conference attended by several bishops, and the concern there was that Christians cannot even congregate and are subject to military rule.
Persecution of Christians — House of Commons, 2016-11-24
Topic: Civil Rights
Philip Thomas Hollobone (Conservative, Centre-right): If we made it a criminal offence in this country for a Christian to become a Muslim, there would be outrage across the world. Yet people in many Arab countries face legal persecution and prosecution if they convert from Islam to Christianity. What representations is the Church making to these Arab countries that have such rules on apostasy?