argyrotsipi/train-dataset huggingface dataset:
EU Trade Negotiations — House of Commons, 2020-10-14
Topic: International Affairs
Simon Anthony Hart (Conservative, Centre-right): The first responsibility in this particular context is to respect the fact that 55% of people in Wales voted to leave the European Union, and it seems astonishing that the party of Wales, represented by the right hon. Lady, is still so out of step with the people of Wales when it comes to that. The clock is not being turned back, and what we are attempting to do is to deliver a deal that respects that decision and all the institutions in Wales, which I thought we both valued.
EU Trade Negotiations — House of Commons, 2020-10-14
Topic: International Affairs
Simon Anthony Hart (Conservative, Centre-right): Having seen the Chancellor ensure that the Welsh Government have had £4.4 billion-worth of UK taxpayers’ money for exactly that purpose, I hope the right hon. Lady would share my view that we are looking at the UK in the round. Covid is an international problem, and it does not respect political boundaries. The Chancellor’s announcements make it very clear that he sees all the UK as a priority, not just individual component parts, and I would think the numbers speak for themselves.
Covid-19 Restrictions — House of Commons, 2020-10-14
Topic: International Affairs
David Thomas Charles Davies (Conservative, Centre-right): That is a very good question. Although the UK Government extend an open invitation to the devolved Administrations to take part in Cobra meetings and ministerial implementation groups, the same spirit of co-operation has not thus far been forthcoming. I was invited to one meeting by Welsh Government Ministers to discuss parts that were reserved to the UK Government anyway. We stand ready to accept the same level of co-operation from Welsh Government as we have always extended to them.
Covid-19 Restrictions — House of Commons, 2020-10-14
Topic: Labor
David Thomas Charles Davies (Conservative, Centre-right): We certainly are not playing politics with people’s lives. The hon. Lady will be aware that 25% of the workforce of Wales travel over to England to work there, and playing politics with people’s lives potentially means looking at livelihoods as well. The reality is that we have followed the science all the way through this process and, more or less, the Welsh Government have followed exactly what the UK Government are doing.
Covid-19 Restrictions — House of Commons, 2020-10-14
Topic: International Affairs
David Thomas Charles Davies (Conservative, Centre-right): First, let me wish my hon. Friend penblwydd hapus for tomorrow. It is the case, of course, that this virus does not respect boundaries, but the UK Government do. Although I fully accept that some people may have concerns about the slightly different approach the Welsh Government sometimes adopt in this matter, the UK Government respect devolution and the reality of Welsh government, and my role as a Minister is to work constructively with Welsh Government Ministers. At this moment, I do not wish to start playing politics and criticising them.
Storm Dennis — House of Commons, 2020-10-14
Topic: Macroeconomics
Simon Anthony Hart (Conservative, Centre-right): The Chief Secretary to the Treasury wrote to the hon. Gentleman last week to confirm that he is expecting to provide £2.5 million needed for the tip repairs in Tylorstown, in the hon. Gentleman’s constituency. The letter also clarifies that the Chief Secretary is waiting to hear further from the Welsh Government on an additional request to access the reserve.
Storm Dennis — House of Commons, 2020-10-14
Topic: Macroeconomics
Simon Anthony Hart (Conservative, Centre-right): What a contrast with the conversation the hon. Gentleman and I had last when I reported this news to him; he was charm and diplomacy itself then, yet when he gets in the Chamber with an audience, he becomes a different personality. I will remind him, just in case he has forgotten, what the Chief Secretary’s letter actually says. Among other things, he says, "I am expecting to provide the required funding." That is in relation to the Welsh Government confirming they will make a reserve claim for 2020-21. So this process is under way. It does require the Welsh Government to come to the party, too, but they have not yet done so. Of course a lot of this is in the devolved space, so the hon. Gentleman cannot just pick and choose which bits of devolution suit his desire to make a statement in the Chamber.
Covid-19: Financial Support — House of Commons, 2020-10-14
Topic: Macroeconomics
Simon Anthony Hart (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Lady and I have a similar dependence on tourism in our constituencies, so I understand absolutely the argument she makes about its value, but I remind her that so far UK taxpayers have contributed £1.1 billion by way of bounce back loans; £490 million in self-employed income support; £303 million in coronavirus business interruption loans; £30 million-worth of eat out to help out; future funding of £7 million—I would carry on, Mr Speaker, if only you would let me—and that is not to mention the 401,000 employees on furlough. The Treasury has gone above and beyond the international average and tried to get to every single business in every single area of the UK, and that includes Gower just as much as anywhere else.
Covid-19: Financial Support — House of Commons, 2020-10-14
Topic: Social Welfare
Simon Anthony Hart (Conservative, Centre-right): Often in this questions session we have talked about the fact that there will always be those in all our constituencies who do not quite fit every single one of the intervention measures that the Chancellor has announced over the past few months. In those circumstances, of course we want to be as flexible as possible and to try to find ways, through either the intervention schemes or universal credit, to support the hardest-hit families as best we can. If the hon. Lady brings to my attention individual examples of those gaps, I will of course do my best to address them.
Covid-19: Financial Support — House of Commons, 2020-10-14
Topic: Macroeconomics
Simon Anthony Hart (Conservative, Centre-right): I start by expressing some confusion: on the one hand, Opposition Members are articulating a Welsh Government view that the existing interventions are not strict enough, but on the other, the hon. Lady gets to her feet and says that the interventions are almost imposing undue hardship. It is quite difficult to know exactly where the Opposition stand on getting the balance right between disease control and the maintaining of a vibrant economy. At each and every stage of this process, the Chancellor has been flexible and adaptable and has recognised that the situation is changing, often by the hour, let alone by the day or week. The financial interventions, which up to now have been about £4.4 billion by way of Barnettised contributions to the Welsh Government—and we could probably double that for the other interventions, which are more direct—have supported business in Wales. But of course, as the circumstances change and our reaction changes, so we will remain flexible.
Covid-19: Financial Support — House of Commons, 2020-10-14
Topic: Macroeconomics
Simon Anthony Hart (Conservative, Centre-right): I know from my personal contact with the Chancellor over the past few weeks that he is looking at all these options. That is why the winter resilience measures were brought in a week or so ago, on top of all the other measures he has introduced, which recognise the very difficult situation in which so many people find themselves. I am not going to stand here and say that we are never going to consider another option; of course we will. We will always look at the individual circumstances, particularly of those who are hardest hit.
Covid-19: Financial Support — House of Commons, 2020-10-14
Topic: Education
Simon Anthony Hart (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Gentleman makes a good point about universities. Of course, that is a devolved matter and yet hugely dependent on the Union effort. In answer to his very direct question, I can give him a very direct yes.
City and Growth Deals — House of Commons, 2020-10-14
Topic: Energy
Andrew Griffith (Conservative, Centre-right): Last week, the Prime Minister outlined how we can build back better by investing in areas such as hydrogen, green energy and electric mobility. Does the Minister agree that, while it is an opportunity for the whole United Kingdom, we should particularly put Wales at the heart of that green revolution?
City and Growth Deals — House of Commons, 2020-10-14
Topic: Energy
David Thomas Charles Davies (Conservative, Centre-right): I am very happy to agree with that. The Prime Minister’s commitment last week was a game changer, quadrupling offshore wind energy by 2030, doubling the amount of support for renewables projects and providing £160 million to support infrastructure and one gigawatt of new floating wind projects. That is all clear evidence of this Government’s commitment to a green and resilient economic recovery from the coronavirus.
UK Internal Market Bill — House of Commons, 2020-10-14
Topic: Foreign Trade
David Thomas Charles Davies (Conservative, Centre-right): The United Kingdom Internal Market Bill will protect seamless trade across the United Kingdom, which will benefit people in all corners of the UK and, indeed, of this House. Our market access guarantee will provide certainty for Welsh businesses as the transition period ends and provide a firm foundation upon which businesses may flourish.
UK Internal Market Bill — House of Commons, 2020-10-14
Topic: Foreign Trade
Aaron Stuart Bell (Conservative, Centre-right): Obviously, in Newcastle-under-Lyme, the whole of Staffordshire, and indeed the whole of the west midlands, there are a number of businesses that both source from and supply to Wales. Those businesses need the certainty that standards will be observed and that what they produce will be able to be sold into different markets around the United Kingdom, and particularly in Wales. Will my hon. Friend confirm that the United Kingdom Internal Market Bill will deliver on that?
UK Internal Market Bill — House of Commons, 2020-10-14
Topic: Foreign Trade
David Thomas Charles Davies (Conservative, Centre-right): I can absolutely confirm that. I hope all Members of this House are listening to the wise words of my hon. Friend. The Bill provides a vital guarantee that businesses in his constituency, and in all constituencies across the UK, will be able to continue to trade confidently within our internal market as the transition period ends.
Covid-19: Economic Recovery — House of Commons, 2020-10-14
Topic: Macroeconomics
Simon Anthony Hart (Conservative, Centre-right): The UK Government have provided a support package for Welsh businesses and communities in recent weeks, including the Government’s £30 billion plan for jobs. Our ambition remains to secure jobs, stimulate growth and provide opportunities to level up Wales.
Covid-19: Economic Recovery — House of Commons, 2020-10-14
Topic: International Affairs
Simon Anthony Hart (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend makes a very good point. The Barnettised numbers, which total £4.4 billion so far, do give the Welsh Government a degree of flexibility in addressing issues if the evidence supports doing it in a slightly different way. There are one or two examples of where they have introduced their own interventions, courtesy of money provided by UK taxpayers, but the overriding point is that there does need to be a degree of collaboration and co-operation that straddles all the countries of the UK, because this is an international and a national challenge.
Covid-19: Economic Recovery — House of Commons, 2020-10-14
Topic: Energy
Stephen Crabb (Conservative, Centre-right): Like me, the Secretary of State will have welcomed the vision set out by the Prime Minister last week for expanding renewable energy and, importantly, the commitment to boosting floating offshore wind power, which represents such a big opportunity for us in Wales. May I ask him if he would use his good offices to ensure that all the relevant players in this—the private sector developers that have projects ready to go, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Crown Estate, which owns the seabed—are all on the same page, working towards a shared goal so that we get decisions made in a timely way?
Covid-19: Employment Support — House of Commons, 2020-10-14
Topic: Social Welfare
Simon Anthony Hart (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank the hon. Lady for her comments. Conversations I have had with the Department for Work and Pensions, and indeed the Chancellor, have touched on this very issue. This is why the arrangements on universal credit have been as flexible as they can be. The Department is making an effort to ensure that everybody is accounted for and that those who might fall into the gaps we referred to earlier are properly looked after. That is very much uppermost in the minds of Cabinet and ministerial colleagues. I can give her that assurance.
Full-fibre Broadband Network — House of Commons, 2020-10-14
Topic: Technology
David Thomas Charles Davies (Conservative, Centre-right): The Government are committed to rolling out broadband across the United Kingdom, although we have much work to do. I am pleased that 50% of premises in Wales have access to full-fibre broadband, compared with only 14% in the UK as a whole. Only a fortnight ago, I was able to go out with the innovative Welsh SME Beacons Telecom, which is helping to deliver broadband in remote and rural parts of Wales—the parts of Wales that Openreach seemingly cannot reach.
Full-fibre Broadband Network — House of Commons, 2020-10-14
Topic: Technology
David Thomas Charles Davies (Conservative, Centre-right): If the Scottish Government care to issue me with an invitation, I stand ready to serve and offer advice such as I can. Actually, I think my advice is that are innovative small companies out there that are able to do things that Openreach apparently cannot do. I saw an example of that in Wales, and I am sure there must be many others. I assure the hon. Gentleman that as a Government who are committed to the Union, our broadband ambitions span not just Wales but the whole of the United Kingdom, from the tip of Penzance right up to the coast of Caithness and beyond.
Strengthening the Union — House of Commons, 2020-10-14
Topic: International Affairs
David Thomas Charles Davies (Conservative, Centre-right): The Government are fully committed to the constitutional integrity of the United Kingdom. Our response to the covid-19 outbreak has clearly demonstrated the value of Wales being a part of the Union, with a package of UK Government support that frankly goes well beyond anything that the Welsh Government could offer alone. It is clear that our four nations are safer and more prosperous when we stand together.
Strengthening the Union — House of Commons, 2020-10-14
Topic: Transportation
Marco Longhi (Conservative, Centre-right): It is very good news that the Government have appointed Sir Peter Hendy to undertake a detailed review as to how the quality and availability of transport infrastructure can support economic growth, as well the quality of life, across the UK. Will the Minister advise on what his Department’s priorities are for this review in Wales?
Strengthening the Union — House of Commons, 2020-10-14
Topic: Transportation
David Thomas Charles Davies (Conservative, Centre-right): Our priorities, clearly, will be better transport links, ensuring that Wales is better connected to the rest of the Union, but the Government’s ambitions go well beyond transport infrastructure. We believe that Wales is an integral part of the United Kingdom and we want to see not just good transport links but our historical links and cultural links, because we believe that one is quite easily able to be proud to be Welsh and proud to be British in this Union.
Strengthening the Union — House of Commons, 2020-10-14
Topic: Transportation
Selaine Rachel Saxby (Conservative, Centre-right): From Ilfracombe to Exmoor in my North Devon constituency, it is possible to see south Wales. Does my hon. Friend agree that we should look at the options for better connecting the two areas to strengthen the links between our economies and, ultimately, the Union?
Strengthening the Union — House of Commons, 2020-10-14
Topic: International Affairs
David Thomas Charles Davies (Conservative, Centre-right): I entirely agree with what my hon. Friend has said. The Government are going to strengthen all links within the United Kingdom. We are a Conservative and Unionist Government, and I look forward to support from all sides of the House.
Engagements — House of Commons, 2020-10-14
Topic: Social Welfare
Shailesh Lakhman Vara (Conservative, Centre-right): During this pandemic, in my constituency of North West Cambridgeshire, I have seen a number of instances of ordinary citizens doing extraordinary work helping the elderly and vulnerable, and that has been repeated across the country in every single constituency, giving true meaning to the words "community spirit". Would my right hon. Friend take this opportunity not only to acknowledge the fantastic work that has been done by so many people, but to give a huge thank you to each and every one of these unsung heroes of our country?
Engagements — House of Commons, 2020-10-14
Topic: Social Welfare
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): As the right hon. Gentleman knows, the Chancellor has already unveiled the job support scheme, which will go through till next year. Those on low incomes will also have the additional benefit of universal credit, which again is going through, in its uplifted form—£1,000 extra per year—to next April at least.
Engagements — House of Commons, 2020-10-14
Topic: Macroeconomics
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): As I have said many times to the right hon. Gentleman, this Government are continuing to support people across the whole of the UK, with many billions of pounds in Barnett consequentials—at least £5 billion in Barnett consequentials for Scotland alone. But one thing I will congratulate him on is the Scottish nationalist party’s support for the tiered approach, which I think is still its policy, unlike the Labour party. At least it is showing some vestige of consistency in its normal gelatinous behaviour.
Engagements — House of Commons, 2020-10-14
Topic: Labor
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): I am proud of what the Government have done to raise the national living wage, which this Government introduced. What I can tell the hon. Gentleman is that whatever happens, a combination of the job support scheme and universal credit will mean that nobody gets less than 93% of their current income.
Engagements — House of Commons, 2020-10-14
Topic: Agriculture
Alun Craig Williams (Conservative, Centre-right): British wool is a multifunctional versatile product, but sadly farmers across the UK and Montgomeryshire feel frustrated that this highly sustainable natural product is not properly valued and utilised to its full potential at the moment. Will the Prime Minister help to boost the export market, or indeed our domestic demand, for British wool as we build back better? For example, wool can be used as a great insulator for the next generation of sustainable housing.
Engagements — House of Commons, 2020-10-14
Topic: Agriculture
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank my hon. Friend for what he does to campaign for wool. As someone whose family used to farm sheep, I feel the pain of sheep farmers everywhere. The price is on the floor at the moment. Uses such as the one my hon. Friend identifies are extremely interesting and should be pursued. I urge everybody in this country who is thinking of Christmas presents to buy British wool this winter.
Engagements — House of Commons, 2020-10-14
Topic: Government Operations
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): Of course, we will make sure that local authorities get the support they need. As the hon. Gentleman knows, we have already put in an extra £3.7 billion into helping local authorities and, I think, a total of £28 billion into tackling the local consequences of covid. We will continue to support people throughout the country.
Engagements — House of Commons, 2020-10-14
Topic: Energy
Gary Nicholas Streeter (Conservative, Centre-right): May I strongly support the aspiration of the Prime Minister, set out last week, to deliver floating offshore wind capacity of 1 GW by 2030? Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is a very substantial scheme being worked up in the Celtic sea that would meet a third of that target, as well as create many jobs in south Wales, Devon and Cornwall? Will he please use his best endeavours to ensure that the Crown Estate looks favourably on that project to help our country to deliver its important climate change commitments?
Engagements — House of Commons, 2020-10-14
Topic: Macroeconomics
Lee Anderson (Conservative, Centre-right): Ashfield and Eastwood has been left behind, ignored and forgotten about after decades of Labour-run councils and Labour MPs. Last December, my friends, family and constituents voted for change. They want to see the glory days return to Ashfield and Eastwood, which was once the beating heart of Nottinghamshire through mining, textiles and engineering. Can my right hon. Friend please reassure me that Ashfield and Eastwood will no longer be the forgotten constituency and that he will do all he can to make sure we get the investment that we need to secure better jobs, better education, better training and a better future?
Engagements — House of Commons, 2020-10-14
Topic: Macroeconomics
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): I know that I have given that answer many times, and that is because the answer remains the same, which is that the uplift will remain in place through to April next year. As I said, when we combine the JSS with UC people get 93% of their income. I appreciate that times are tough, but the best thing we can do is keep this economy moving if we possibly can, keep our kids in schools and avert the "disaster"—Labour’s words—of another national lockdown.
Engagements — House of Commons, 2020-10-14
Topic: Macroeconomics
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank the hon. Gentleman. I am in continuous contact, as he can imagine, with the leader and the deputy leader in Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland, of course, will receive at least £2.4 billion in additional funding as a result of Barnett consequentials, but we will look at further imaginative and creative measures to support jobs and to support livelihoods across the whole of the UK.
Engagements — House of Commons, 2020-10-14
Topic: Law and Crime
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): Yes, I certainly can confirm what my right hon. Friend says about treating victims with dignity and respect, and she is right to take pride in what this Government have done in introducing the Modern Slavery Act 2015. Thanks to that Act, we are identifying more victims of modern slavery than ever before: 10,000 potential victims of modern slavery were identified in 2019, which is a 52% increase. It is this Government, this House and this country that are leading the campaign against modern slavery.
Engagements — House of Commons, 2020-10-14
Topic: International Affairs
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): I am very grateful to the hon. Lady for pointing that out. I will make sure that there is interoperability; I will do what I can to ensure there is interoperability across all four nations. As she knows, there is a slightly different approach in Northern Ireland already, but in the bulk of the approach that we have so far taken, there is much more in common than sets us apart.