argyrotsipi/train-dataset huggingface dataset:
Jobcentre Plus Offices: Closure — House of Commons, 2017-01-30
Topic: Labor
Robert John Blackman (Conservative, Centre-right): In my constituency over the past seven years, unemployment has more than halved. That is good news, but it means that the people who are still unemployed are the more difficult people to place and they need more intensive work. The good people of Edgware will be wondering what they have done to upset their public services, with the closure of two libraries and the jobcentre. Will my hon. Friend consider the potential for not only home visits but satellite visits using commercial premises so that job organisations can run them and workplace coaches can coach a number of people together?
Jobcentre Plus Offices: Closure — House of Commons, 2017-01-30
Topic: Labor
Caroline Fiona Ellen Nokes (Conservative, Centre-right): I reassure my hon. Friend that the DWP is doing exactly that. Outreach is an important part of our suite of products to enable claimants to be get back into work. We will continue to look at the best ways to deliver that in the best locations across the country.
Jobcentre Plus Offices: Closure — House of Commons, 2017-01-30
Topic: Government Operations
Caroline Fiona Ellen Nokes (Conservative, Centre-right): Where claimants are required to sign on more frequently than fortnightly we will look to reimburse costs, but I remind the right hon. Gentleman that across London the claimant count is down 24.6% since 2010. There are fewer people claiming and we are trying to work with them more intensively.
Jobcentre Plus Offices: Closure — House of Commons, 2017-01-30
Topic: Labor
James Jacob Gilchrist Berry (Conservative, Centre-right): It is all very well to talk about jobcentres in London, but in rural Lancashire my constituents in Edgworth will have to travel for over an hour to get to Blackburn if we close the Darwen jobcentre. They are supremely hardworking and supremely successful, and anyone who thinks they can get from Darwen to Blackburn in 23 minutes is living in la-la land.
Jobcentre Plus Offices: Closure — House of Commons, 2017-01-30
Topic: Transportation
Caroline Fiona Ellen Nokes (Conservative, Centre-right): Like me, my hon. Friend represents a rural constituency. Our constituents are used to having to travel long distances to access services. Where claimants will have to travel for over an hour by public transport, we are considering what arrangements we can put in place, including claiming by post.
Jobcentre Plus Offices: Closure — House of Commons, 2017-01-30
Topic: Labor
Philip Thomas Hollobone (Conservative, Centre-right): The good news in Kettering is that the number of unemployed people has fallen from more than 2,000 in May 2010 to just over 900 today, and record numbers of local people are in employment. Does my hon. Friend agree that one of the key achievements of hard-working jobcentre staff is to get many people online for the first time, thus improving their employability?
Jobcentre Plus Offices: Closure — House of Commons, 2017-01-30
Topic: Labor
Caroline Fiona Ellen Nokes (Conservative, Centre-right): I would like to direct the hon. Lady’s attention to the National Audit Office report of 2005, which says: "One of the Department’s main needs is flexibility in the amount of accommodation it uses." I reassure the hon. Lady that we are ensuring that we retain enough flexibility within the system to be able to cope with future changes in the jobs market.
Jobcentre Plus Offices: Closure — House of Commons, 2017-01-30
Topic: Labor
Richard Michael John Ogilvie Graham (Conservative, Centre-right): For those out of work or in other difficulties, it could be incredibly useful if citizens rights bureaux, jobcentre plus offices, council offices, local law centres and possibly agencies for those with disabilities were found in the same place—more or less co-located. Will the Minister update us on the extent to which regional Jobcentre Plus managers are discussing that with local authorities?
Jobcentre Plus Offices: Closure — House of Commons, 2017-01-30
Topic: Education
Caroline Fiona Ellen Nokes (Conservative, Centre-right): I do not intend to give a blow-by-blow account of the sensitive commercial negotiations, but my hon. Friend will be aware that we are working very closely with local authorities, the voluntary sector and the education sector to make sure that we can put co-location in place. I direct him to the co-location that has taken place in Lincoln, which has proved to be a beacon of how we can best deliver services.
Jobcentre Plus Offices: Closure — House of Commons, 2017-01-30
Topic: Labor
Caroline Fiona Ellen Nokes (Conservative, Centre-right): What we are looking at is how best to support the vulnerable. The hon. Lady makes a really important point about those who are not able to deal with their claims online. It is crucial to continue to look at how our work coaches can work with those people to make sure that provision, whether it be in the shape of outreach or at a different location, is best tailored to their needs.
Jobcentre Plus Offices: Closure — House of Commons, 2017-01-30
Topic: Labor
Mark Andrew Pritchard (Conservative, Centre-right): Wellington Jobcentre Plus office is due to relocate to Telford later this year, and Telford is 4 miles away. While we have record employment in Shropshire and in my constituency, which is most welcome, what can the Minister do to mitigate the increased costs for those who are long-term unemployed to get from Wellington to Telford to seek work?
Jobcentre Plus Offices: Closure — House of Commons, 2017-01-30
Topic: Labor
Caroline Fiona Ellen Nokes (Conservative, Centre-right): Many jobseekers will already travel more than 4 miles to access their nearest jobcentre, and it is important that we remember not just that, but that people in employment will also be travelling significant distances in their daily commute. We are seeking the best solutions for individuals by looking at outreach and co-location—to find ways that people can access services online so that where possible we can minimise the disruption to their looking for work.
Jobcentre Plus Offices: Closure — House of Commons, 2017-01-30
Topic: Government Operations
Caroline Fiona Ellen Nokes (Conservative, Centre-right): The most important aspect when it comes to relocations such as that one is, of course, the staff. That is why we have been working closely with all our DWP staff to make sure that we find roles for them elsewhere and give them the assistance they need, should we choose to relocate them.
Jobcentre Plus Offices: Closure — House of Commons, 2017-01-30
Topic: Social Welfare
Caroline Fiona Ellen Nokes (Conservative, Centre-right): Co-location is an important part of our strategy, and I am glad that my hon. Friend welcomes it. We need to identify the ways in which our claimants can best gain access not only to DWP services, but to the services of other organisations such as, in this instance, the local authority.
Jobcentre Plus Offices: Closure — House of Commons, 2017-01-30
Topic: Social Welfare
Caroline Fiona Ellen Nokes (Conservative, Centre-right): One of my first visits as a DWP Minister was to the jobcentre in Newcastle, and it was a great opportunity to see the universal credit full service being delivered at first hand. It is important to reflect on the specific criteria, and I am happy to answer the hon. Lady’s question. When people have to attend a jobcentre more than once a fortnight, we will reimburse them. As for those who are vulnerable and have childcare responsibilities, we are considering various ways in which we can deliver the service, which include allowing them to claim by post. We are very conscious that many people already travel much further than the distances that the hon. Lady has mentioned, either to go to work or to gain access to jobcentre services.
Jobcentre Plus Offices: Closure — House of Commons, 2017-01-30
Topic: Labor
Thomas Christopher John Pursglove (Conservative, Centre-right): In Corby and east Northamptonshire unemployment has also fallen by more than 50% since 2010, but what assessment has my hon. Friend made of the actual outcomes for jobseekers when Jobcentre Plus facilities are co-located with other services?
Jobcentre Plus Offices: Closure — House of Commons, 2017-01-30
Topic: Labor
Caroline Fiona Ellen Nokes (Conservative, Centre-right): We should reflect on some of our successful co-locations. For instance, as I mentioned earlier, we have worked closely with the local authority in Lincoln. The outcomes for jobseekers who are able to gain access to many services in the same place are as good as, or better than, the outcomes at individual jobcentres. It is important for us not to get hung up on the bricks and mortar, but to focus on the services that our work coaches provide for people who are looking for work.
Jobcentre Plus Offices: Closure — House of Commons, 2017-01-30
Topic: Labor
Caroline Fiona Ellen Nokes (Conservative, Centre-right): In fact, there are also notices in all the Jobcentre Pluses indicating that the consultation is ongoing. We have communicated with our claimants, and it is very important that it is their views that feed into this process.
Jobcentre Plus Offices: Closure — House of Commons, 2017-01-30
Topic: Labor
Caroline Fiona Ellen Nokes (Conservative, Centre-right): What we do know is that those who are on universal credit full service are spending more time looking for work. We also know that the vast majority of those job searches are conducted online, and that they are more successful It is important for individual claimants to have a relationship with their work coaches, because circumstances may change. That was emphasised to me in a Westminster Hall debate relatively recently. What is someone misses a bus? What if missing a connection means that a person is late for an appointment with the work coach? We want people to have a good relationship with their work coaches, so that they give them the necessary information. It is critical that if people miss appointments, they tell us why.
Jobcentre Plus Offices: Closure — House of Commons, 2017-01-30
Topic: Labor
Caroline Fiona Ellen Nokes (Conservative, Centre-right): Of course, many disabled claimants access our services very successfully online, but, as I have said, the DWP has a home visiting service which we can extend to all disabled claimants who ask for it when their circumstances make it difficult for them to go to a jobcentre. We want our work coaches to provide tailored support for each of their claimants, to have a relationship with them, and to understand their specific needs.
Jobcentre Plus Offices: Closure — House of Commons, 2017-01-30
Topic: Labor
Caroline Fiona Ellen Nokes (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Lady will have heard me say earlier that my hon. Friend the Minister for Employment was in Musselburgh just two weeks ago, and she will remember that the claimant count in her constituency is down 42% since 2010.
Jobcentre Plus Offices: Closure — House of Commons, 2017-01-30
Topic: Labor
Caroline Fiona Ellen Nokes (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Gentleman will, of course, be aware that we expect claimants to be prepared to travel for up to an hour to seek work, and it is important that we get feedback from claimants and talk to our staff and understand the impacts. As I have said, we are looking at outreach options, we can do DWP home visiting, and many claimants will be able to conduct their claims either online or by post.
Jobcentre Plus Offices: Closure — House of Commons, 2017-01-30
Topic: Labor
Caroline Fiona Ellen Nokes (Conservative, Centre-right): As the hon. Gentleman will have heard me say, we are very concerned that disabled claimants make us aware of their circumstances so that they can nominate the jobcentre that is most convenient for them, benefit from DWP home visiting or conduct their claims online.
Jobcentre Plus Offices: Closure — House of Commons, 2017-01-30
Topic: Labor
Caroline Fiona Ellen Nokes (Conservative, Centre-right): No, of course the plan is not to put all services in Cardiff. As the hon. Gentleman will have heard me say many times, what we are seeking to do is make the best use of our estate, learn from what claimants and our Jobcentre Plus staff are telling us about these proposals, and make sure we get value for money for the taxpayer.
Jobcentre Plus Offices: Closure — House of Commons, 2017-01-30
Topic: Labor
Caroline Fiona Ellen Nokes (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Gentleman will, of course, be conscious that the Jobcentre Plus estate in Glasgow has grown up historically and has many more smaller jobcentres than other parts of the country. This is about making best use of the premises we have and making sure we do not have empty desk space in our buildings.
Jobcentre Plus Offices: Closure — House of Commons, 2017-01-30
Topic: Labor
Caroline Fiona Ellen Nokes (Conservative, Centre-right): This is not about squashing anything; it is about making sure that we have full desks in buildings, not empty desks. In some instances, we have jobcentres where more than 20% of the desks are unused. The hon. Lady will be aware that unemployment is down nearly 5% across London since 2015, and it is very important that we make the best use of the facilities we have and get the best value for taxpayers.
Jobcentre Plus Offices: Closure — House of Commons, 2017-01-30
Topic: Labor
Caroline Fiona Ellen Nokes (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Gentleman will be aware that we expect jobseekers to be prepared to travel for up to an hour for work. This is about making the best use of the DWP’s estate and making sure that there are no empty desks in jobcentres up and down the country.
Jobcentre Plus Offices: Closure — House of Commons, 2017-01-30
Topic: Labor
Caroline Fiona Ellen Nokes (Conservative, Centre-right): As I have said several times this afternoon, we expect people who are looking for work to be prepared to travel for a great deal longer than 23 minutes to get to the workplace. The hon. Lady makes an important point about the consultation, which I will raise with the Minister for Employment, my hon. Friend the Member for East Hampshire (Damian Hinds).
Jobcentre Plus Offices: Closure — House of Commons, 2017-01-30
Topic: Government Operations
Caroline Fiona Ellen Nokes (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Gentleman makes a really important point. It is crucial that we do not lose expertise, which is why we will be listening to all DWP staff to see how we can best use that resource in future.
Jobcentre Plus Offices: Closure — House of Commons, 2017-01-30
Topic: Labor
Caroline Fiona Ellen Nokes (Conservative, Centre-right): We are talking about a shared society in the hon. Gentleman’s constituency, where unemployment has gone down by 56% since 2010. It is really important that we ensure that our DWP estate and our work coaches are in the right locations to provide the best service to claimants and value for money to the taxpayer.
US Immigration Policy — House of Commons, 2017-01-30
Topic: International Affairs
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): Where we have differences with the US, we will not hesitate to express them, as I have done today—if Opposition Members were listening —as the Prime Minister did yesterday, and as she did in her excellent speech in Philadelphia last week. We also repeat our resolve to work alongside the Trump Administration in the mutual interest of both our countries. I commend this statement to the House.
US Immigration Policy — House of Commons, 2017-01-30
Topic: International Affairs
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that. What the interventions of Senator McCain and Senator Graham possibly show is that this is a subject for lively debate on Capitol Hill, as it is here in this House. I repeat that we do not support this—it is not a policy we agree with—and it is clear from what my hon. Friend says that others in the US do not agree with it either.
US Immigration Policy — House of Commons, 2017-01-30
Topic: International Affairs
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): As the hon. Lady will know, when it comes to tackling the scourge of Daesh—she is absolutely right about that—this country is the second biggest contributor to military action in strikes against Daesh in Iraq and in Syria. We continue to be the second biggest donor to dealing with the humanitarian crisis in that region. Everybody in this House should be incredibly proud of the leadership that the UK is showing in that respect. I have already set out my views. It is up to Members of the House of Commons if they wish to exhaust the wells of outrage in the denunciation of this policy. I have made my position clear—I made it clear yesterday. I said it was wrong to promulgate policies that stigmatise people on the basis of their nationality, and I believe that very profoundly. What we have done in the last few days is to intercede on behalf of UK nationals—that is our job—and UK passport holders. We have secured very important protections for them.
US Immigration Policy — House of Commons, 2017-01-30
Topic: International Affairs
Julian Murray Lewis (Conservative, Centre-right): President Trump is what we might call a "known unknown": we know that he will do and say unpredictable things, and often just as quickly abandon those positions. He will learn as he goes along, and what we have to remember is that our security and that of Europe depends on the Atlantic alliance. So does my right hon. Friend agree that there must be no question of our refusing to welcome him to these shores, in the hope of setting him along the right path as soon as possible, to our mutual benefit?
US Immigration Policy — House of Commons, 2017-01-30
Topic: International Affairs
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): My right hon. Friend is entirely right, in the sense that the Prime Minister succeeded the other day in getting her message across about NATO and President Trump affirmed very strongly his commitment to that alliance; it is vital for our security, particularly the article 5 guarantee, and the new President is very much in the right place on that. [Interruption.] He said so. It is totally right, of course, that the incoming President of our closest and most important ally should be accorded the honour of a state visit. That is supported by this Government and the invitation has been extended by Her Majesty the Queen, quite properly.
US Immigration Policy — House of Commons, 2017-01-30
Topic: International Affairs
Simon Hugh McGuigan Burns (Conservative, Centre-right): Given our new-found closeness to the Trump Administration, what plans does my right hon. Friend have to try to persuade the Administration, after the 90 days, to abandon what to many is a despicable and immoral policy? Would he agree —to paraphrase a far wiser President, John. F. Kennedy —that those who ride on the back of a tiger end up inside it?
US Immigration Policy — House of Commons, 2017-01-30
Topic: International Affairs
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): I am sure that my right hon. Friend’s words will be heard in Washington, but all I can say is that we will continue to engage with the Administration to make our points about the interests of UK nationals and, of course, to convey our feelings about the global consternation that this measure has caused.
US Immigration Policy — House of Commons, 2017-01-30
Topic: International Affairs
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): Of course, it is possible to create all sorts of hypothetical situations that are yet more outrageous. As far as I understand the matter—the right hon. Gentleman will appreciate that it is for the US to explain that aspect of its policy—the answer is that such a case would be treated very expeditiously and particular arrangements would be put in place to ensure that that person was able to travel to the US.
US Immigration Policy — House of Commons, 2017-01-30
Topic: International Affairs
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): I hesitate to say it, but the hon. Gentleman’s memory is at fault if he thinks that Mussolini rained bombs on this country. I hear the comparison that he makes, but I do not accept it; I believe that it is in our interest to work with our American friends and partners, to show our disquiet where appropriate, and to get the best deal for UK nationals and dual nationals.
US Immigration Policy — House of Commons, 2017-01-30
Topic: International Affairs
John Alan Redwood (Conservative, Centre-right): When President Obama imposed a similar ban on a single country in 2011, American democracy ensured that it did not last, and other action was taken. Can we not rely on American democracy this time to do the right thing and take the right moral pose, and is it not the job of British Ministers to speak for British policy?
US Immigration Policy — House of Commons, 2017-01-30
Topic: International Affairs
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): My right hon. Friend is entirely right; indeed, my hon. Friend the Member for Reigate (Crispin Blunt) has pointed out that there is already disquiet about this policy on Capitol hill. I have no doubt whatsoever that the American political system will help to introduce the requisite balances in the end. It is our job to intervene now and get the best deal we can for UK nationals.
US Immigration Policy — House of Commons, 2017-01-30
Topic: International Affairs
Anna Mary Soubry (Conservative, Centre-right): I congratulate the Foreign Secretary on condemning America’s policy, which, by any standards, is completely unjustified. Like many of us, I am delighted that Sir Mo Farah can apparently go home and see his wife and children. Does the Foreign Secretary agree with Sir Mo Farah, who described the policy as based on nothing more than prejudice and ignorance?
US Immigration Policy — House of Commons, 2017-01-30
Topic: International Affairs
Nadhim Zahawi (Conservative, Centre-right): I commend the Foreign Secretary on the work that he did on Sunday into the night to ensure that Britons had safe travel to the United States of America. Has he had clarification from the Administration on whether they have updated the advice to their embassies, because there is confusion? Some embassies are still turning dual nationals away and not allowing them to enter the United States of America.
US Immigration Policy — House of Commons, 2017-01-30
Topic: International Affairs
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): I am thrilled that neither my hon. Friend, with whom I have travelled many times, nor Sir Mo Farah will be affected by this presidential Executive order. I can confirm that the embassy advice has been updated as we have been speaking.
US Immigration Policy — House of Commons, 2017-01-30
Topic: International Affairs
Jacob William Rees-Mogg (Conservative, Centre-right): I congratulate my right hon. Friend on making those words in our passports that refer to allowing Her Majesty’s subjects to travel "without let or hindrance" a reality, and on being the first Minister to come to the Dispatch Box to defend domestic policy in the United States since Lord North. May I encourage him to defend our interest, as he is doing, and not seek to tell America how to run itself?
US Immigration Policy — House of Commons, 2017-01-30
Topic: International Affairs
Robert James MacGillivray Neill (Conservative, Centre-right): The Foreign Secretary is to be congratulated on working to protect the rights of British nationals, but will he also consider that he would not be telling an ally how to run its own country by reminding it, in calm and firm terms, that our shared relationship is based on mutual respect for the rule of law, both nationally and internationally? Persisting with this policy does America no good in that regard at all.