argyrotsipi/train-dataset huggingface dataset:
Exiting the European Union — House of Commons, 2016-09-05
Topic: Immigration
David Michael Davis (Conservative, Centre-right): Let me first deal with the immediate uncertainty and loss of confidence. There was undoubtedly a downward dip in confidence immediately after Brexit, partly because of all the terrible things people said would happen. They have not happened, and confidence is recovering, so let us put that to one side for the moment. On access to markets, I am absolutely on the side of those FSB members. That is what we will seek to do, but we must take on board the fact that the sheer level of immigration into the UK from the European Union has caused social issues, and perhaps economic issues for low-paid workers and the like. We must balance that against the corporate interests—that is what we will do—and try to get the outcome that is best for Britain.
Exiting the European Union — House of Commons, 2016-09-05
Topic: Mixed Topics
Sarah James (Wollaston) (Conservative, Centre-right): I warmly welcome my right hon. Friend and the whole Front Bench team to their important new roles in making a success of Brexit. Will the Secretary of State set out what discussions he has had with the EU Trade Commissioner, who has taken a much tougher line on article 50? We all agree it is in everyone’s interest to get on and negotiate before we exit, but in a recent interview she indicated that that will not be the case.
Exiting the European Union — House of Commons, 2016-09-05
Topic: Civil Rights
David Michael Davis (Conservative, Centre-right): One aspect of democracy is that one side wins and one side does not win. [Interruption.] Someone from the Labour Front Bench says that young people lost, which is certainly not true. We will see a bigger, greater and more glorious country in future than the one we already have. Just because the hon. Member for Middlesbrough (Andy McDonald) does not understand that does not mean that they lost To return to the hon. Lady’s point, young people may of course feel at this point that their views did not win the day. I am afraid that that is part of democracy. It is our job to ensure they gain from the outcome of that decision.
Exiting the European Union — House of Commons, 2016-09-05
Topic: Immigration
Henry Edward Millar Smith (Conservative, Centre-right): In warmly welcoming my right hon. Friend to his very well-deserved position, I implore him to have early discussions with our right hon. Friends the Home Secretary, the Secretary of State for Transport and others to ensure that the words "European Union" are removed at the earliest possible moment from UK passports and driving licences.
Exiting the European Union — House of Commons, 2016-09-05
Topic: Civil Rights
Edward Julian Egerton Leigh (Conservative, Centre-right): Congratulations on resurrection after 18 years. It gives the rest of us hope It was not just places such as Lincolnshire that delivered the leave result; it was the Labour heartlands in the north and the midlands. My right hon. Friend knows those heartlands very well indeed. Does he think it would have been helpful if the official Labour spokesman—if there is such a thing—had made it absolutely clear that the people had spoken and that all Conservative and Labour Members will deliver this democratic result?
Exiting the European Union — House of Commons, 2016-09-05
Topic: Immigration
David Michael Davis (Conservative, Centre-right): I certainly repeat the statement I made in Northern Ireland last week. The soft border or open border—I am not quite sure what the right phrasing is—existed before either of us were members of the European Union. We were separate countries with different VAT and income tax rates. It seems to me entirely possible, given modern technology, that we can do the same, and that we can design an immigration system that is also able to cope. I certainly reiterate in the House what I said in Northern Ireland last week.
Exiting the European Union — House of Commons, 2016-09-05
Topic: Mixed Topics
David Nuttall (Conservative, Centre-right): I warmly welcome my right hon. Friend to his new post and his statement, no doubt the first of many to this House. On 22 June, the day before the referendum, the FTSE closed at 6,261. Today, it is over 6,800—up 10%. Does my right hon. Friend agree that this tells us all we need to know about investor confidence in our future: that we will be better off outside the European Union?
Exiting the European Union — House of Commons, 2016-09-05
Topic: Mixed Topics
David Michael Davis (Conservative, Centre-right): What it certainly tells us is that the business community is not as afraid of this great new opportunity as was claimed before the referendum. I do not want to re-run the arguments of the leave campaign, but let me say that while market movements in stock markets are volatile, small and often reverse themselves, what do not reverse themselves are large inward investments. In the year in which our party committed to give the referendum, we had the largest inward investment in our history.
Exiting the European Union — House of Commons, 2016-09-05
Topic: Mixed Topics
David Michael Davis (Conservative, Centre-right): I do not think that my right hon. Friend was referring to immigration; I suspect he was referring to fishing. What certainly will be the case is that we will take back control of UK fishing rights.
Exiting the European Union — House of Commons, 2016-09-05
Topic: Domestic Commerce
David Michael Davis (Conservative, Centre-right): Given that my Department did not exist before I arrived in it, it is rather difficult to find documents that relate to what happened beforehand. There was certainly some planning done on the financial side—to deal with any financial turbulence. As we saw, the Bank and the Treasury undertook certain measures. As for the Department itself, I have brushed across it, but the fact that it quadrupled in size in August certainly says something. My hon. Friend will remember from his days as a Parliamentary Private Secretary what Whitehall is like is August—it is empty. We are not short of applicants, and we really have the brightest and the best applying to help us. That applies to the Department for International Trade as well as mine, so my hon. Friend can feel confident about that.
Exiting the European Union — House of Commons, 2016-09-05
Topic: Mixed Topics
David Michael Davis (Conservative, Centre-right): That is a good question. I would expect us to be able to ensure that there will be freedoms that are at least as good as those that are in place now. One important aspect—it applies to the EU, but particularly to Britain—is that we are a science superpower. We have a fabulous education system and some of the best universities and the best students in the world. I think that that will be reflected in the outcome that we see in a few years’ time.
Exiting the European Union — House of Commons, 2016-09-05
Topic: Mixed Topics
Robert Edward Jenrick (Conservative, Centre-right): I was delighted to hear my right hon. Friend say that he had begun the huge task of going sector by sector to assess the undoubted challenges that many parts of the British economy will face. Will he add a second column to his spreadsheet for the opportunities that those sectors might have and that might arise from Brexit? We all know from every industry and business that we have worked in that there will be areas of promise from leaving the European Union, particularly in respect of avoiding onerous and excessive European regulations that hold back British economic sectors. Will my right hon. Friend create a parallel process of assessing those regulations so that we can be in a good position as soon as we leave?
Exiting the European Union — House of Commons, 2016-09-05
Topic: Mixed Topics
David Michael Davis (Conservative, Centre-right): I have never experienced so many attempts to seduce me into making promises. As I said earlier, this will be one of the gains from the European Union negotiation, but there may be some internal negotiations within it. If my hon. Friend speaks to his local fishermen, he will see what I mean.
Exiting the European Union — House of Commons, 2016-09-05
Topic: Other
David Michael Davis (Conservative, Centre-right): I repeat what I have said already: the information will become available as we work through the process. If the hon. Gentleman somehow imagines that this is a "Lego block" process in which anyone could engage without thinking about it, I suggest that he look at it again.
Exiting the European Union — House of Commons, 2016-09-05
Topic: Other
David Michael Davis (Conservative, Centre-right): I must say that I thought the hon. Lady was going to refer to Ruth Davidson, who won the popularity contest this time round, but let me say something else about the Scottish nationalist approach to this. Our new Prime Minister, before she even carried out her reshuffle, went to Scotland to see the First Minister. How much more respect one politician could pay to another I do not know, but what gratitude do we get for it? What we have just heard.
Exiting the European Union — House of Commons, 2016-09-05
Topic: Other
John Simon Bercow (Conservative, Centre-right): Order. I thank the Secretary of State, the Opposition Front-Bench spokespersons, and all 85 Back Benchers who had the opportunity to question the right hon. Gentleman. I am sure that other instalments will follow in due course.
Junior Doctors: Industrial Action — House of Commons, 2016-09-05
Topic: Other
John Simon Bercow (Conservative, Centre-right): Order. For clarification, I must emphasise that there is no concept of giving way in respect of a statement. Although this might resemble a debate to those who are attending our proceedings from beyond the confines of the Chamber, it is a statement with a response. There are no interventions.
Junior Doctors: Industrial Action — House of Commons, 2016-09-05
Topic: Mixed Topics
Jeremy Richard Streynsham Hunt (Conservative, Centre-right): I do not think that is the way forward, because the best way to solve these disputes is by an agreed solution. That is actually what we had, which is why it is so disappointing that the BMA has chosen not to work to try to implement it.
Finance Bill — House of Commons, 2016-09-05
Topic: Mixed Topics
John Simon Bercow (Conservative, Centre-right): With this it will be convenient to discuss the following: New clause 10—Review of the operation of the Patent Box— "(1) The Chancellor of the Exchequer shall, within six months of the passing of this Act, lay an independent report of the value for money provided by, and the efficacy of, the Patent Box legislation before both Houses of Parliament (2) The report shall— (a) assess the size and nature of the companies taking advantage of the Patent Box legislation; (b) assess the impact of the Patent Box legislation on research and innovation in the UK, including supporting evidence; and (c) assess the cost effectiveness of the Patent Box legislation in incentivising research and development compared to other policy options." New clause 11—Assessment of taxation regime for securitisation companies— "The Chancellor of the Exchequer shall, within six months of the passing of this Act, commission an independent assessment of the efficacy of the taxation regime to which securitisation companies are subject and lay the assessment before both Houses of Parliament." Amendment 177, page 87, line 6, leave out clause 44 Amendment 162, page 87, line 8, ‘leave out clause 45 Government amendments 152, 153, 1 to 29, 154, 31, 155, 33 to 59, 156, 61 to 113, 157, 115 to 117, 158, 159, 119 to 128, 160, 129 to 131.
Finance Bill — House of Commons, 2016-09-05
Topic: Domestic Commerce
John Alan Redwood (Conservative, Centre-right): Is not the bigger issue: where should the profit be fairly struck? Where was the value added? Where did the work take place? Where is the intellectual property residing? Getting transparency is one thing, but we could still get transparency for an answer that we do not like.
Finance Bill — House of Commons, 2016-09-05
Topic: Other
John Simon Bercow (Conservative, Centre-right): With this it will be convenient to discuss the following: Amendment 140, in clause 125, page 205, line 32, leave out from "after" to end of subsection and insert "1 January 2017" Amendment 142, page 205, line 32, leave out "such" and insert "1 April 2017, or on any prior" Amendment 144, page 205, line 32, leave out "such" and insert "1 April 2018, or on any prior" Government amendment 161.
Private Finance 2/Private Finance Initiative — House of Commons, 2016-09-05
Topic: Mixed Topics
Simon Kirby (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend raises an interesting point. Projects are financed in different ways. The hon. Lady’s local hospital, Whipps Cross, which is part of the Barts hospital PFI, was bond-financed. Refinancing is far more difficult and far less practical for bond debt. It is safe to say that refinancing of bonds is unlikely to provide value for money. The aim is value for money not only in the financing of new projects, but in changing or varying an existing finance arrangement.
Government Estate (Modernisation) — House of Commons, 2016-09-07
Topic: Housing
Benedict Gummer (Conservative, Centre-right): Working collaboratively with Departments and local government, we are delivering a public sector estate that is cost-effective, supports the delivery of better-integrated public services, and exploits surplus land and property to help build homes and create jobs. In so doing, since 2010 we have raised £1.8 billion in capital receipts and reduced running costs by £750 million.
Government Estate (Modernisation) — House of Commons, 2016-09-07
Topic: Housing
Henry Bellingham (Conservative, Centre-right): I welcome the Minister to his place and congratulate him on his well-deserved promotion. Does he agree that at a time when the country needs to build more housing on brownfield sites, it is essential that the Government lead the way in this? Have the Government done any audit that has ascertained the amount of land available and the number of houses and flats that could be built on it?
Government Estate (Modernisation) — House of Commons, 2016-09-07
Topic: Housing
Benedict Gummer (Conservative, Centre-right): We have done some partial work, as my hon. Friend suggests. It is in the nature of the work that we are doing that there is not sufficiently good-quality understanding of public sector land, and that is why we are seeking to make it better. Despite that, we delivered 100,000 homes on public sector land in the previous Parliament, and we aspire to build 150,000 in this one. I shall provide him with further details as and when we discover them.
Electoral Law Reform — House of Commons, 2016-09-07
Topic: Civil Rights
Christopher James Skidmore (Conservative, Centre-right): The Government believe that it is absolutely vital to our democracy that young people should be engaged in the democratic process, and we will continue our commitment to increasing participation. The current voting age of 18, however, is widely recognised as the point at which one becomes an adult and gains full citizenship rights. I note that the question of lowering the voting age has been debated in this House on several occasions, when it has been repeatedly defeated, including three times during proceedings on the European Union Referendum Bill. The Government therefore have no plans to reduce the voting age.
Electoral Law Reform — House of Commons, 2016-09-07
Topic: Civil Rights
John David Penrose (Conservative, Centre-right): I join in warmly welcoming the Minister to his new position. In the EU referendum The Daily Telegraph’s Charles Moore voted twice, spoiling the ballot paper from his second home, to show how the system could, in theory, be cheated. As the Minister considers proposals to strengthen electoral law against voter fraud, would he therefore also consider a new legal requirement for people with more than one residence to choose one of them in advance as the only place where they wish to be legally registered to vote?
Electoral Law Reform — House of Commons, 2016-09-07
Topic: Mixed Topics
Christopher James Skidmore (Conservative, Centre-right): I hope you do not mind, Mr Speaker, but I would like to pay tribute to my predecessor for the work he has undertaken. He has left me with a rich inheritance The incident involving Charles Moore is the subject of an investigation, and therefore it would be inappropriate for me to comment on it. I note, however, that the Law Commission report includes recommendations on electoral residence, which the Government will respond to in due course.
Electoral Law Reform — House of Commons, 2016-09-07
Topic: Civil Rights
Christopher James Skidmore (Conservative, Centre-right): The Government are committed to ensuring that we have a democracy that works for everyone. Already, the introduction of individual electoral registration has made it easier to register to vote than ever before, with 20 million applications to register to vote online since 2014. The Electoral Commission’s report from July 2016 found that thanks to IER, electoral registers are not only more complete than ever before, but, critically, more accurate than ever. The Government recognise that there is always more to do, and we are committed to a programme of boosting registration among certain vulnerable groups in order to build a more engaged democracy.
Constituency Boundaries — House of Commons, 2016-09-07
Topic: Civil Rights
Questions: The number of electors in Welsh parliamentary constituencies varies hugely: Cardiff South and Penarth has more than 72,000 electors; Arfon has fewer than 40,000. My constituency of Montgomeryshire sits roughly in the middle, with about 48,000. Does the Minister agree that it cannot be right for each of these constituencies to elect one MP when the number of voters within them is so radically different?
Christopher James Skidmore (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend is absolutely right. We cannot continue with the historical injustice of allowing such unequal representation. That representation currently allows for the electorate of one seat to be twice the size of another’s or, to put it in other words, allows one elector’s vote to be worth twice that of another. This injustice, long recognised, must be resolved.
Anonymous Voter Registration: Domestic Violence Victims — House of Commons, 2016-09-07
Topic: Civil Rights
Christopher James Skidmore (Conservative, Centre-right): The Government are determined that those whose personal safety would be at risk if their details appeared on the register should be able to register anonymously. I have arranged to meet representatives from Women’s Aid to discuss concerns they may have over the process of anonymous registration and have also written to my right hon. Friend the Minister for Women and Equalities to set out our plans to look at regulations on this important policy.
Anonymous Voter Registration: Domestic Violence Victims — House of Commons, 2016-09-07
Topic: Civil Rights
John Simon Bercow (Conservative, Centre-right): Order. This is very unfair. The hon. Lady is asking a question about help for victims of domestic violence who wish to register to vote anonymously. I really think the House should be attentive to this matter.
Anonymous Voter Registration: Domestic Violence Victims — House of Commons, 2016-09-07
Topic: Civil Rights
Christopher James Skidmore (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank the hon. Lady for raising this issue with me. I recognise what she says. Those who have left domestic violence to seek a new life may be seen as some of the most vulnerable in society, but I believe that they are also some of the bravest. As I said, today I can announce that the Government will look closely at representations from Women’s Aid and other domestic violence charities. I am happy to meet the hon. Lady, since we are determined that no one should be denied the opportunity to vote.
Anonymous Voter Registration: Domestic Violence Victims — House of Commons, 2016-09-07
Topic: Civil Rights
Nicky Morgan (Conservative, Centre-right): I warmly welcome the Minister to his position. He will find that his letter is a reply to one I wrote on this topic when I was Minister for Women and Equalities. I warmly welcome what he has said, but he could speed things up by adding domestic violence protection orders and domestic violence protection notices to the list of evidence needed. I urge him to do that speedily.
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2016-09-07
Topic: Other
Questions: Our electoral system needs to be both user-friendly and watertight if it is to command the respect of the British public. The Minister previously alluded to the report produced by my right hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Sir Eric Pickles). Will the Minister commit today to implementing at least the broad thrust of the report, so that trust in our system can continue?
Benedict Gummer (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Gentleman has asked a number of questions and I will ensure that I relay them to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, but I can say that he is responsible for the chancellery of the Duchy of Lancaster.
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2016-09-07
Topic: Civil Rights
Questions: Our electoral system needs to be both user-friendly and watertight if it is to command the respect of the British public. The Minister previously alluded to the report produced by my right hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Sir Eric Pickles). Will the Minister commit today to implementing at least the broad thrust of the report, so that trust in our system can continue?; Will the Minister tell the House whether the Cabinet Office will play an important role in co-ordinating and helping to co-ordinate the Brexit negotiations and the activities of the three Brexiteers? Will the Cabinet Office ensure that it helps them to reach agreement, perhaps playing the role of a latter-day d’Artagnan, helping them with their exploits and their mission?; The Bathgate office of Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, which serves my constituency, is to close by 2020 as part of the modernisation programme, with services moving online. [Interruption.]; The Prime Minister set her Government on the right track with her very first words outside 10 Downing Street, with a determination to stand up against injustice and inequality. What progress has been made on the audit of racial disparities in public service outcomes?
Benedict Gummer (Conservative, Centre-right): I am very glad to hear my hon. Friend endorse the words, on the steps of Downing Street, of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister. She will be glad to know that we have already had a substantial meeting to discuss the remit of the racial disparity audit. It will uncover uncomfortable truths, but unless we do that we will not be able to face up to the burning injustices that remain in our country.