argyrotsipi/train-dataset huggingface dataset:
Courts and Tribunals: Recovery — House of Commons, 2020-12-03
Topic: Mixed Topics
Robert James Buckland (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Lady is right to quote me, because I do believe in local initiative and I have seen it in action from HMCTS staff, who know the buildings, in which some of them have worked for many years, better than anybody. I take very much on board what she says. Of course, each court building is pretty different from the other; there is no set template and we all know they are pretty unique. The work that is done to make our courts safe is done in conjunction with Public Health England and Public Health Wales. I will consider the matter she raises further in more detail in order to satisfy myself that everything properly is being done.
Courts and Tribunals: Recovery — House of Commons, 2020-12-03
Topic: Mixed Topics
Robert James Buckland (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Lady will know that we have had to make some very difficult choices, bearing in mind the unprecedented recourse to public funds placed upon us as a result of the covid emergency. We have worked as hard as we can to ensure that people stay in employment and that our economy is saved as a result of the necessary decisions we have had to make to protect public health. She will be glad to know that the Chancellor is targeting help at people who are on lower pay. There is particular provision for those who are earning under £24,000 a year, which will see an increase in their salary. There are existing increments as well. I am looking carefully at the overall impact on HMCTS staff, and I will do everything I can to ensure that, within the parameters set by the Treasury of necessity, those in most need will receive an increase in pay next year.
Courts and Tribunals: Recovery — House of Commons, 2020-12-03
Topic: Mixed Topics
Robert James Buckland (Conservative, Centre-right): I am grateful to my hon. Friend, who I know takes a particular interest in this matter. He is right to pay tribute to the magistracy and, indeed, to highlight the recruitment campaign that is currently ongoing. I would urge members of the public who want to take part and to be part of the system to make such an application. On the retirement age, the consultation has now concluded. I am considering its findings, and I will report back to the House as soon as possible.
Courts and Tribunals: Recovery — House of Commons, 2020-12-03
Topic: Other
Robert James Buckland (Conservative, Centre-right): I refer the hon. Lady exactly to my response to the hon. and learned Member for Edinburgh South West (Joanna Cherry), who asked a question in very similar terms. The hon. Lady is right to ask that, and we do take that obligation extremely seriously indeed and are working to meet it at all times.
Future of Coal in the UK — House of Commons, 2020-12-03
Topic: Other
Eleanor Fulton Laing (Conservative, Centre-right): It is very good that so many colleagues wish to participate in this debate on such an important subject, but unfortunately that means that I have to impose an immediate time limit of four minutes on Back-Bench speeches.
Fishing Industry: Tariffs — House of Commons, 2020-11-26
Topic: Mixed Topics
Charles George Eustice (Conservative, Centre-right): Before I turn to the question, the tragic loss of the Joanna C on Saturday is a sad reminder of the dangers that our fishermen face every time they go out to sea. We are all incredibly grateful for the bravery and dedication of the Coastguard, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and all those involved in the search. Our thoughts are with the families of Adam Harper and Robert Morley, and all the families and those affected The Government have offered the European Union a free trade agreement along the lines of the EU-Canada one, which would involve zero tariffs on all goods, including fish and fish products. We hold regular discussions with both the catching sector and the fish processing sector to discuss the great opportunities that will arise at the end of the transition period.
Fishing Industry: Tariffs — House of Commons, 2020-11-26
Topic: Mixed Topics
Charles George Eustice (Conservative, Centre-right): Tariffs on fish, particularly the fish that we export, are typically far lower than on many agrifoods. The average tariff on the shellfish that we export is about 8%. Obviously, we would prefer there to be zero tariffs on all goods, and that is the offer that the Government have made to the European Union—in both directions—but the fishing sector generally recognises that, if it needed to pay tariffs, it could pay those tariffs, and the European Union would have to face higher prices.
Covid-19: Zoos — House of Commons, 2020-11-26
Topic: Mixed Topics
Victoria Mary Boswell Prentis (Conservative, Centre-right): In addition to the full range of financial support available to all businesses and employers, we have established an extra £100 million support fund for those who are facing severe financial difficulty, and the deadline for applications to the fund has been extended to the end of January.
Covid-19: Zoos — House of Commons, 2020-11-26
Topic: Public Lands
David Anthony Andrew Amess (Conservative, Centre-right): On a recent visit to Chester zoo, I saw its excellent conservation work and learned at first hand about the remarkable way it is coping with the coronavirus pandemic. However, the zoo animal fund criteria for access seem to be very peculiar, because zoos seem to have to be on the verge of closure before they can get any money. Surely that is wrong. Will my hon. Friend look at those criteria again, please?
Covid-19: Zoos — House of Commons, 2020-11-26
Topic: Mixed Topics
Victoria Mary Boswell Prentis (Conservative, Centre-right): We listened to concerns following the roll-out of the initial support scheme and we have made changes to reflect that. The zoos animal fund, which is simpler to apply for, is now open to zoos that have up to 12 weeks of reserves left. It can be applied for in advance of that and can include applications for essential planned maintenance.
Flood Defences — House of Commons, 2020-11-26
Topic: Public Lands
Rebecca Faye Clark (Pow) (Conservative, Centre-right): The Government are currently investing £2.6 billion between 2015 and 2021, approximately £650 million of which will be allocated to local authorities. Between 2021 and 2027, we will invest £5.2 billion in flood and coastal defences, in addition to a £200 million resilience innovation fund, which were all mentioned yesterday in the spending review. In July 2020, we announced an additional £170 million to accelerate shovel-ready flood defence schemes. Funding for projects is allocated according to the rules governing DEFRA’s existing six-year capital programme.
Flood Defences — House of Commons, 2020-11-26
Topic: Public Lands
Kieran John Mullan (Conservative, Centre-right): Maw Green Road in my constituency has been hit by severe flooding. In fact, residents have been seen canoeing their way out. Cheshire East local authority has not been successful in its applications for financial support to tackle this issue. Will the Minister agree to meet me to look at its proposals to see what we can do to support it financially so that it can tackle this matter?
Flood Defences — House of Commons, 2020-11-26
Topic: Public Lands
Rebecca Faye Clark (Pow) (Conservative, Centre-right): We all understand the difficulties that flooding can bring and my hon. Friend is right to raise it. I understand that the Environment Agency recently attended a meeting with the Lead Local Flood Authority to address the surface water flooding in Maw Green Road, and that the LLFA is pursuing specific actions to address the situation, including seeking Department for Transport funding to alleviate flooding under the railway bridge upstream. Therefore, no DEFRA floods funding has been applied for in this location, but, obviously, I am happy to have a chat with him and look into this matter.
Flood Defences — House of Commons, 2020-11-26
Topic: Mixed Topics
Neil Quentin Gordon Parish (Conservative, Centre-right): The environmental land management scheme could do much to help stop flooding, especially flash flooding. How advanced is the ELM scheme, and when will we hear about it? In the future, can we ensure that the payments are enough, so that people can farm water as part of their farming practice?
Raw Sewage and Storm Water: Discharge into Waterways — House of Commons, 2020-11-26
Topic: Mixed Topics
Alexander Paul Thomas Stafford (Conservative, Centre-right): Whiston in Rother Valley has repeatedly been flooded, most recently last year; and people are still out of their homes. In part, this has caused overflow of sewage into the Whiston brook. Indeed, raw sewage went into Whiston brook 43 times last year. However, Rotherham Council has just granted planning permission for 450 homes off Worrygoose Lane, which is directly above the brook. That is going to have a huge impact on Whiston brook. Will my hon. Friend speak to Rotherham Council to convince it that building an extra 450 homes in Whiston is going to flood the brook and bring misery to so many people’s lives?
Raw Sewage and Storm Water: Discharge into Waterways — House of Commons, 2020-11-26
Topic: Public Lands
Rebecca Faye Clark (Pow) (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank my hon. Friend for his impassioned question. The national planning policy framework makes it very clear that new developments should be made safe and resilient without increasing the risk of floods elsewhere. The Environment Agency and Rotherham Council have been working together in partnership to find a solution to flood risk in the area. Early studies of the proposed Whiston flood alleviation scheme indicate that the scheme could better protect about 60 houses.
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2020-11-26
Topic: Mixed Topics
Charles George Eustice (Conservative, Centre-right): The Hunting Act was brought forward by the Labour party, and there is now a consensus across this House that it should remain. Where there is a breach of that legislation, obviously the police can investigate, and they do.
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2020-11-26
Topic: Public Lands
Charles George Eustice (Conservative, Centre-right): The Government believe that the Hunting Act is sufficient. Where there are breaches, it should be enforced. It is for individual landowners to choose, as they always have done, whether they would like hunts on their land.
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2020-11-26
Topic: Housing
Charles George Eustice (Conservative, Centre-right): We are in discussions on this matter with ministerial colleagues in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. The hon. Lady will be aware that a planning Bill is coming forward, and one of the things we have already said we would like to do is strengthen the role of the Environment Agency as a statutory consultee on future planning developments.
Covid-19 Lockdown: Public Worship — House of Commons, 2020-11-26
Topic: Civil Rights
Andrew Edmund Armstrong Selous (Conservative, Centre-right): Both archbishops joined other faith leaders earlier this month in writing to the Prime Minister to highlight the importance of public worship. The worship of Jesus is the spiritual fuel that keeps the engine of the Church running.
Covid-19 Lockdown: Public Worship — House of Commons, 2020-11-26
Topic: Civil Rights
Edward Julian Egerton Leigh (Conservative, Centre-right): Over the past 1,000 years, we have had a fair proportion of saints and sinners as Archbishop of Canterbury, but one thing that we demand of our established Church is that it provides robust leadership against arbitrary government. I do not know whether my hon. Friend noticed that 90 colleagues and I wrote to the Prime Minister on the subject of the closure of churches, but can he assure me, as a voice of the established Church in this place, that if there is any future proposal to prevent public worship, the Church of England will demand evidence—there has never been a shred of evidence—and we will try to save this very important part of public life?
Covid-19 Lockdown: Public Worship — House of Commons, 2020-11-26
Topic: Mixed Topics
Andrew Edmund Armstrong Selous (Conservative, Centre-right): I not only noted my right hon. Friend’s letter, but was one of the signatories to it. Like him, I know that clergy have worked extraordinarily hard to provide covid-secure services. I felt safer in church than in any other public space I have been in during the pandemic. My right hon. Friend makes a very valid point. I have registered that point very strongly, and I will absolutely feed it through to the leadership of the Church of England.
Christmas Services: Covid-19 — House of Commons, 2020-11-26
Topic: Civil Rights
Andrew Edmund Armstrong Selous (Conservative, Centre-right): From 2 December, places of worship can reopen for public worship, and churches and cathedrals can now approach Advent and Christmas with certainty. Clergy have already demonstrated that they have made their buildings covid-secure, and many cathedrals and churches are planning to have multiple services to accommodate more people as fewer are allowed in each service. The further good news is that, while indoor singing is limited to performance only, we can all take part in outdoor and door-to-door singing, staying 2 metres apart or away from the threshold, and nativity plays for under-18s are permitted in accordance with the performing arts guidance.
Christmas Services: Covid-19 — House of Commons, 2020-11-26
Topic: Civil Rights
Andrew Edmund Armstrong Selous (Conservative, Centre-right): I know that my hon. Friend takes a close interest in this area of the Church’s work. The Church continues to work with the Government through the places of worship taskforce to advise parishes on how to continue providing critical assistance locally, which they have done wonderfully well. For example, St Peter’s in Market Bosworth, in his constituency, is supporting the local women’s refuge with food and toiletries.
Christmas Services: Covid-19 — House of Commons, 2020-11-26
Topic: Civil Rights
Neil Peter Hammerton Hudson (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank my hon. Friend for his answer. Once again, churches have done amazingly through this pandemic, continuing with outreach to their communities. I pay tribute to the churches in Penrith and The Border and across the country that enabled remembrance ceremonies to go ahead this year in challenging circumstances. Does he agree that, as churches look to reopen for worship and other activities in the months ahead, targeted Government financial support for them would be a great way to ensure that their vital community work and support can carry on?
Christmas Services: Covid-19 — House of Commons, 2020-11-26
Topic: Civil Rights
Jacob Young (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank my hon. Friend for his answer. Churches in Redcar and Cleveland, such as St Mark’s in Marske and St Cuthbert’s in Ormesby, have gone above and beyond to ensure that the risk of transmission in churches is low. They are a place for people of all faiths and none to find peace in what has been an incredibly difficult eight months. Unfortunately, Advent Sunday this year will fall inside the lockdown, but I am grateful that the Government have said that churches can reopen for the rest of Advent from 2 December. What message does the Church Commissioner have for those churches in Redcar and Cleveland in the approach to Christmas?
Christmas Services: Covid-19 — House of Commons, 2020-11-26
Topic: Civil Rights
Andrew Edmund Armstrong Selous (Conservative, Centre-right): I am delighted to learn of the important role that churches in Redcar and Cleveland have played in helping people to find peace during this dreadful pandemic. The closure of churches is not something that any of us ever wants to see again. I hope that my hon. Friend’s constituents will follow the advice of the Archbishop of Canterbury: to come to church in person or virtually and to spend time with their wider families in a safe and responsible way.
Consistory Courts: Appeals Process — House of Commons, 2020-11-26
Topic: Mixed Topics
Andrew Edmund Armstrong Selous (Conservative, Centre-right): I am sure that the whole House would want to extend their sympathies to the Keane family, and I am hopeful that change is on the way. The Church of England (Miscellaneous Provisions) Measure 2020, which was recently passed by this House, provides for exemptions from and reductions in court fees in the ecclesiastical courts to be made in secondary legislation. The Fees Advisory Commission will be asked to consider these provisions and, following that, an Order in General Synod will be made next year and will be laid before Parliament.
Parish Church Network: Covid-19 — House of Commons, 2020-11-26
Topic: Civil Rights
Karl McCartney (Conservative, Centre-right): Good morning, Mr Speaker, and I look forward to seeing you later I thank my hon. Friend for his response on behalf of the Church Commissioners—[Inaudible]—it is pleasing to hear. We look forward to a quick return to daily and weekly services for primary worship as soon as we are able, but also to the collections taken at these services along with the extra-curricular activities in the annual calendar of parish churches to fundraise and generate income for churches and their parishioners, which we hope can be reinstated as soon as is practicable, too.
Local Communities: Covid-19 — House of Commons, 2020-11-26
Topic: Mixed Topics
David Anthony Andrew Amess (Conservative, Centre-right): I know that my hon. Friend would agree with me that at this particular time our churches are more important than ever. Certainly in my constituency, they do remarkable work—for instance, with the Southend night shelters—and during the coronavirus pandemic, they have been delivering food and medicines to vulnerable people. Will my hon. Friend please tell the House what the Church is doing to thank local churches and to celebrate their work?
Persecution of Christians — House of Commons, 2020-11-26
Topic: Civil Rights
Andrew Edmund Armstrong Selous (Conservative, Centre-right): I would like to thank my hon. Friend for the enormous dedication and energy he put into this issue as the Prime Minister’s special envoy for religious freedom. The Church of England continues to press for the implementation of all the Truro report recommendations and challenges Governments and other faith leaders around the world who do not respect freedom of religion or belief.
Persecution of Christians — House of Commons, 2020-11-26
Topic: Civil Rights
Atta-Ur-Rehman Chishti (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank my hon. Friend for his kind words. Recently around the world, including in Nice and Vienna, evil acts have been committed in the name of religion. Pope Francis said in 2018: "Every religious leader is called to unmask any attempt to manipulate God for ends that have nothing to do with him or his glory." The Archbishop of Canterbury expressed similar views in 2016 on tackling extremism through theological dialogue. Can my hon. Friend confirm what steps are being taken by the Church to work with other faith leaders around the world to further address the issue of persecutions of Christians, who are the largest persecuted faith in the world, and to address the issue of other individuals of all faiths being persecuted for their faith through theological and inter-faith dialogue?
Persecution of Christians — House of Commons, 2020-11-26
Topic: Civil Rights
Andrew Edmund Armstrong Selous (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend will know that there is a debate later today on this very subject, and he is absolutely right about the importance of inter-faith dialogue, which is why three years ago the Anglican primates launched an inter-faith commission to build mutual understanding and trust between different faiths. The Archbishop of Canterbury, who has a particular heart for reconciliation, said it "will bring together the wisest people across the Communion to work on this area in the places of highest tension with the aim of replacing diversity in conflict with diversity in collaboration."
Christmastide Services — House of Commons, 2020-11-26
Topic: Civil Rights
Andrew Edmund Armstrong Selous (Conservative, Centre-right): The Church Commissioners have regular discussions with the Association of English Cathedrals, and cathedrals have made huge efforts to reach out to people in their areas. Lichfield cathedral, which I know is close to my hon. Friend’s heart—I think that he lives within its shadow—will be having an illuminations show and will hold as many services as possible, including some outside if necessary.
Christmastide Services — House of Commons, 2020-11-26
Topic: Mixed Topics
Michael Louis David Fabricant (Conservative, Centre-right): Thank you, Mr Speaker; I am indeed very close to Lichfield cathedral, and the dean of Lichfield cathedral is the chairman of the Association of English Cathedrals. We are all delighted that we are going to have services this year and he has sent me a question, and I am going to read it, because he only lives a few doors down, and I have given my hon. Friend prior notice of the question. The dean asks, "What additional support can be given to cathedrals in the first quarter of 2021 to ensure they remain open and responsive to public need?"
Christmastide Services — House of Commons, 2020-11-26
Topic: Mixed Topics
Andrew Edmund Armstrong Selous (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank my hon. Friend for his question, and I will be leaving these questions to go into a governors meeting of the Church Commissioners, so I will pass that on very directly. I can tell him that Lichfield cathedral has received £140,000 from the national lottery heritage emergency fund, but I know it needs extra funding for urgent building projects, including a buttress that is causing structural concern. I can also tell him that conversations with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and the Treasury about the Government’s own Taylor review of church and cathedral building sustainability are ongoing.
Sexuality and LGBT Communities: Parish Discussion — House of Commons, 2020-11-26
Topic: Civil Rights
Andrew Edmund Armstrong Selous (Conservative, Centre-right): The "Living in Love and Faith" report is a teaching and learning resource for the Church on marriage, sexuality and relationships. We hope it will enable parishes to learn together over the next year as we engage graciously, respectfully and compassionately with each other.
Sexuality and LGBT Communities: Parish Discussion — House of Commons, 2020-11-26
Topic: Civil Rights
Andrew Edmund Armstrong Selous (Conservative, Centre-right): The Church recognises that we are all created in the image of God and should all be treated with dignity, which is why we have also created an anti-racism taskforce. With "Living in Love and Faith", we will move towards a period of discernment and decision making in 2022, and we want to ensure that differences of view are expressed courteously and kindly—something we could do rather better on in this Chamber from time to time.
Gender-based Violence — House of Commons, 2020-11-26
Topic: Civil Rights
Andrew Edmund Armstrong Selous (Conservative, Centre-right): The Anglican communion is supporting yesterday’s White Ribbon Day, the United Nations day for the eradication of all forms of violence against women and girls, with 16 days of online panel discussions and social media campaigns to spot and eradicate gender-based violence. The resources are available in seven languages in over 165 countries, and this is as essential for economic development as it is for the promotion of fundamental human dignity.