argyrotsipi/train-dataset huggingface dataset:
Vulnerable People: Food Supplies — House of Commons, 2020-03-19
Topic: Social Welfare
Questions: What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to maintain food supplies for vulnerable people in the (a) North East and (b) UK during the covid-19 outbreak.
Luke Pollard (Labour, Centre-left): I thank the Secretary of State for that answer. I think he will need to provide more detail for those who are in genuine hunger today; the hope of detail in the future is not reassuring people at the moment. If I may press him further on supermarkets, we discussed the so-called grey hour, when elderly people can shop before the rest of society goes into the supermarkets. Will he press the Department for Transport to relax the times for free bus pass use to ensure that people can get to the supermarkets? Will he also ensure that every supermarket, not just the Co-op, is still contributing food to food banks and organisations such as FareShare? I suspect that he and his colleagues will want to ensure a private sector-led solution wherever possible, but I press him on this issue, because we will not get through this crisis unless there is Government intervention to support those people and ensure that food supply chains remain open.
Support for Farmers — House of Commons, 2020-03-19
Topic: Agriculture
Daniel Stephen Zeichner (Labour, Centre-left): If the motto in past crises was "Dig for Victory", so far this one has been much more "Distribute for Victory". Of course, the retail sector is very important, but I am less sanguine than the Secretary of State about future food supply and I think that we need to make sure that we support all those in that chain. The poultry industry, for instance, is very time-dependent. Two or three days extra for chickens on farms can lead to a whole range of welfare and logistical issues. Can I take it that the Secretary of State is pressing his colleagues to ensure that all those in the food supply chain are recognised on the Government list of key groups of workers, so we make sure that we secure our future food security?
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2020-03-19
Topic: Agriculture
Ruth Lorraine Jones (Labour, Centre-left): The shadow Secretary of State and I have spoken to fishers and their representative organisations right across the UK in recent days, and they are worried. In just the past week, the market value of fish landed by British fishers has fallen to 20% of normal rates. There are significant concerns about the viability of the UK fishing industry, especially the small boats that are the backbone of the British fleet. Many fishers are telling us that they will go bust in the next two weeks. Does the Secretary of State agree that we must take whatever steps are necessary to support fishers and the fishing industry to cope with the pressures of the covid-19 crisis?
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2020-03-19
Topic: Agriculture
Questions: Many of the farms in the countryside around Aylesbury are very small and often run just by families, so there is limited capacity to cover for sickness. What assessment has the Department made of the impact on very small farms if many of the people who work on them succumb to coronavirus?; Given the established links between air pollution and poor lung health, and the knowledge that poor lung health is a risk factor for covid-19, what steps is the Secretary of State taking to understand the additional support that may be needed to enable areas across the UK with the worst air quality to mitigate risks and keep people safe during the pandemic?; Delivery slots should be reserved for the vulnerable. Will the Secretary of State stop them being hogged by people who are quite capable of getting to the shops?; As part of the key worker strategy, will the Secretary of State recognise the crucial importance of food and drink manufacturing and distribution in the food chain? In discussions about the long-term sustainability of the industry, can he and his colleagues persuade the Treasury to abandon its dogma for public purchasing that cheapest is always best?
Christian John Patrick Matheson (Labour, Centre-left): I understand that in 2019, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and FareShare worked on a pilot scheme to make sure that surplus food was diverted to people who needed it. That is still being evaluated. When will Ministers come up with the evaluation? Is now not a good time to put the scheme into practice?
Covid-19: Remote Working — House of Commons, 2020-03-19
Topic: Technology
Questions: To ask the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what support the Parliamentary Digital Service is providing to hon. Members and staff of the House of Commons to enable (a) remote working and (b) video conferencing during the outbreak of covid-19.
Chinyelu Susan Onwurah (Labour, Centre-left): I am sure that we all agree that the Parliamentary Digital Service provides amazing support for Members of Parliament in our wide-ranging and very demanding requirements. But our jobs are changing; I am not going to be able to have face-to-face contact with any constituent for the foreseeable future, and my staff will all be working from home, so we need to have support for a broad range of new applications. The Commissioner talks about laptops and hardware. I want to know that PDS will have the resources to support a wide range of new applications, such as video conferencing.
Marriage and Relationship Support — House of Commons, 2020-03-19
Topic: Education
Questions: To ask the hon. Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what marriage and relationship support the Church of England offers to couples.
Thangam Elizabeth Rachel Debbonaire (Labour, Centre-left): This is probably something to come back to once we have got past the immediate crisis, but what progress has been made on liaising with the Department for Education on aligning such pre-marriage education with schools’ relationship education, which has now been made compulsory for all young people? Will that tie up?
Coronavirus: Employment Support — House of Commons, 2020-03-19
Topic: Macroeconomics
Peter Christopher Dowd (Labour, Centre-left): It is now six and a half weeks since the first cases of coronavirus were reported in the UK. For over a month we have known about the substantial risk that coronavirus poses to the economy and to workers, yet the Government have announced no plan to protect jobs and wages—no full plan for employment support. We are all—all of us—inundated with so many questions, and I have just four of those questions to ask People are asking us: why, for example, have Denmark, which had its first coronavirus case on 27 February, and New Zealand, which had its first case on 28 February, four weeks after our first case, both announced comprehensive job protection plans, while we have announced nothing to secure people’s jobs and wages? Given that, the second question is: what consideration has been given to the models in Denmark and Austria, which the Economic Secretary referred to, which involve the Government paying the bulk of people’s wages in exchange for job guarantees The third question is: why, when the Chancellor announced the loan guarantee on Tuesday, did the Government not tie those loans into an undertaking from business that no one would be laid off? The fourth question: will the Minister accept that freelancers will need additional support if they do not qualify for statutory sick pay? For example, in the culture sector we have as many as 2 million people, hundreds of thousands of whom may be affected The country deserves answers to those questions as a matter of urgency. We will continue to ask these questions not as a matter of political point scoring or ideology, but to ensure that we have a Government response that properly protects the public and matches the scale of the crisis affecting us here and now, not just next week.
Coronavirus: Employment Support — House of Commons, 2020-03-19
Topic: Macroeconomics
Diana Ruth Johnson (Labour, Centre-left): I understand that this is very difficult for the Government and I am sympathetic, but this is about real people’s lives. The Treasury’s natural approach—being cautious and wanting to stress-test everything—is not appropriate in these circumstances. The right hon. Member for Chingford and Woodford Green (Sir Iain Duncan Smith) suggested some really good ideas. Why can they not just be implemented today?
Coronavirus: Employment Support — House of Commons, 2020-03-19
Topic: Social Welfare
Lilian Rachel Greenwood (Labour, Centre-left): A constituent of mine works in a residential home for adults with learning disabilities. Her son’s school will be closed from Monday. She does not know whether she is considered a key worker, and even if she is, as seems obvious, her son has respiratory problems, so she is uncertain whether she wants to send him to school. Her employer says she will not be paid and is not even entitled to statutory sick pay if she cannot come into work because of childcare. What should she do? Where is the clear advice and guidance, and where is the helpline for the thousands of other constituents of mine and of every single Member in this House? Where can they get answers, because they are so worried?
Coronavirus: Employment Support — House of Commons, 2020-03-19
Topic: Social Welfare
Carolyn Harris (Labour, Centre-left): Charities such as Faith in Families in my constituency are really nervous that they will not be able to pay their wages. Without staff, they cannot deliver the projects for which they are applying for funding, which would provide food and childcare facilities in very deprived areas. That is necessary now; it will become essential in the future. What can the Government do to help those charities?
Coronavirus: Employment Support — House of Commons, 2020-03-19
Topic: Labor
Clive Stanley Efford (Labour, Centre-left): After six and a half weeks, when we knew we might reach this stage, it is hard to understand why the Government have no idea what they are going to do to pay the wages of those who are being laid off. A whole tranche of people are going to be laid off now, and more industries will lay people off next week and the week after. If the Government do not act now, they will not be able to retrieve the situation. How have we got to the point where the Government have not got a clue?
Coronavirus: Employment Support — House of Commons, 2020-03-19
Topic: Labor
Nicholas Desmond John Smith (Labour, Centre-left): I do wish Ministers would stop using hyperbole such as "whatever it takes", when they do not follow through sufficiently quickly. Will the Government extend SSP to support all workers and pay it at the rate of the real living wage straightaway?
Coronavirus: Employment Support — House of Commons, 2020-03-19
Topic: Macroeconomics
William Roffen Esterson (Labour, Centre-left): Letting many people get into rent or mortgage arrears or asking businesses to take on debt are not the answers. They are just going to make the crisis worse—[Hon. Members: "And longer."] Yes, thank you. Every business, every employee, every self-employed person and everybody in the third sector needs to know that their living costs will be covered. The Government need to show the urgency that the Minister talks about and they need to show it today. Will the Chancellor come back today and make a statement on how they will deliver this?
Coronavirus: Employment Support — House of Commons, 2020-03-19
Topic: Labor
Kevan David Jones (Labour, Centre-left): Individuals are losing their jobs now—they are in desperate need now. Andrew Brown, a freelance graphic designer in my constituency, contacted me this morning; his business has folded overnight, and he cannot apply for any grants because he works from home. What does he do in that situation? The Minister talks about the great package that was announced the other night, but councils still do not have the guidance to get that money out to businesses. I urge him to get that out as a matter of urgency, because this morning Durham County Council told me that it will not be available until the weekend, and that is too late.
Coronavirus: Employment Support — House of Commons, 2020-03-19
Topic: Macroeconomics
Matthew Raymond Western (Labour, Centre-left): I am afraid that it is quite evident that the Government have lost support and confidence across the Chamber, and that is echoed by the markets. We have seen a 5% drop in sterling, which will translate into higher food and energy prices for already hard-pressed households. In Warwick and Leamington, we are losing jobs and good businesses. Will the Minister support the comments of the right hon. Members for Chingford and Woodford Green (Sir Iain Duncan Smith) and for Tunbridge Wells (Greg Clark) and introduce some form of universal income support to restore both the supply and demand side?
Coronavirus: Employment Support — House of Commons, 2020-03-19
Topic: Labor
Kevin Denis Brennan (Labour, Centre-left): The Minister is a decent man, but there is a feeling across the Chamber that Treasury Ministers, and the Chancellor in particular, find it difficult to empathise with the situation that people find themselves in and do not speak human very well. I appeal to Ministers to show a bit more understanding of the predicament facing freelancers and the self-employed who have lost all their work, and perhaps take on board simple ideas, such as that of the right hon. Member for Tunbridge Wells (Greg Clark). Reverse the polarity—it usually works.
Coronavirus: Employment Support — House of Commons, 2020-03-19
Topic: Social Welfare
Kerry Gillian McCarthy (Labour, Centre-left): Can I ask about people who use registered childminders who now will not be able to do so? Quite understandably, childminders are still asking for the fees, because otherwise they will be short. We now have people who cannot go to work because they have to look after their children, but if they are self-employed, they cannot get money either. What support is available to help them?
Coronavirus: Employment Support — House of Commons, 2020-03-19
Topic: Macroeconomics
Chinyelu Susan Onwurah (Labour, Centre-left): Can I say to the Minister as constructively as possible that his Government’s economic response is undermining the public health response? Job losses are contagious. Fear of economic hardship will spread the virus. The technical details can wait, but he needs to say now—today—that in principle he will guarantee the incomes of everyone at a level that provides security.
Coronavirus: Employment Support — House of Commons, 2020-03-19
Topic: Macroeconomics
Thangam Elizabeth Rachel Debbonaire (Labour, Centre-left): I am sure that the Minister will have heard the cross-party consensus here. If the hon. Member for Harwich and North Essex (Sir Bernard Jenkin) and I are in complete agreement, something is happening, so on behalf of the 130,000 people of Bristol West, I plead with him to take every single one of these suggestions straight back to the Treasury and to put them into practice today.
Windrush Lessons Learned Review — House of Commons, 2020-03-19
Topic: Law and Crime
Mathew Richard Allen Rodda (Labour, Centre-left): I welcome the Home Secretary’s statement and the report. This is quite clearly the most dreadful scandal and, as she rightly said, a breach of trust. Will she now reassure the House that she will do everything in her power to try to mend that breach of trust, and that she will treat the Windrush generation with the respect they deserve?
Points of Order — House of Commons, 2020-03-19
Topic: Government Operations
Christopher John Bryant (Labour, Centre-left): Further to that point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. One key aspect of the 2004 Act is that the use of powers has to be approved by Parliament within seven days and the powers can last for only 30 days before they have to be renewed by Parliament. Indeed, the Act contains specific measures to ensure that the House sits if we are in recess or even if we are prorogued. So could you feed that into the process of answering the right hon. Gentleman?
Points of Order — House of Commons, 2020-03-19
Topic: Government Operations
Kevin Denis Brennan (Labour, Centre-left): On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. In business questions, the Chair of the Public Accounts Committee mentioned a motion that the Leader brought forward this week in relation to Select Committees, which created a new post outside normal Standing Orders of Chair of the Liaison Committee and put a named individual in the motion to take the post. That flies in the face of the normal practice adopted by the House for many years. The Chairs of Select Committees should be elected from among the whole House, with all Members having an opportunity to put their name forward, albeit on a party-balanced basis, for those particular positions. Could you determine, Mr Deputy Speaker, whether it would be possible for the Leader of the House to table an amended motion, leaving that part of the motion out and allowing the Liaison Committee and all Select Committees to be set up forthwith?
Loan Charge 2019: Sir Amyas Morse Review — House of Commons, 2020-03-19
Topic: Social Welfare
Rupa Asha Huq (Labour, Centre-left): The right hon. Gentleman’s point that these are not city slickers and tax-avoiding, money-grabbing sorts reminds me of my constituent, Caroline Cheasty. She was a social worker in the public sector, with 24 years’ experience in local authorities. She had a career break, and when she wanted to go back as a locum, she was advised to either form a plc or go with an umbrella company—that is what she did. She came to my surgery in tears. Does he agree that the Government should go after the promoters of these schemes, not the little people?
Loan Charge 2019: Sir Amyas Morse Review — House of Commons, 2020-03-19
Topic: Macroeconomics
Christian John Patrick Matheson (Labour, Centre-left): I intend to speak for only a couple of minutes. That is partly because of the outstanding introduction from the right hon. Member for Haltemprice and Howden (Mr Davis), which was clear, logical and unimpeachable—I congratulate him on securing the debate—but partly also because the situation is simple I am clear about two facts. First, disguised remuneration loan schemes—DR schemes—were clearly a tax dodge and were used for people to pay less tax. It is absolutely right, as the right hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Sir Edward Davey) hinted, that we should close down those loopholes. However, it is also clear that the loan charge was put in place unfairly and unjustly as a retrospective measure. What is the proof of that particular pudding? Well, the right hon. Member for New Forest West (Sir Desmond Swayne) beat us all to it, and he is absolutely right. Why on earth did we need to introduce the 2017 legislation to introduce the 2019 loan charge if, as the Government and HMRC claim, these schemes were already illegal? They were not. That is why the loan charge was brought in. It is utterly wrong to bring in retrospective legislation and retrospective taxation as a result HMRC is entirely within its rights to look at up to five years of someone’s tax records, but only if the information that the individual has given to HMRC can be proved to be incorrect. We are talking about individuals who had their correct tax returns signed off by HMRC, which agreed that they were perfectly legitimate and lawful under current tax law but then reopened them, not because there was a suggestion that the individuals had provided incorrect information, but because the law had changed or was not quite as HMRC thought it was at the time it signed off those tax regulations. That is HMRC’s problem, not the problem of my constituents Fortunately, I do not know of any constituents who have taken their own life, but I do know of constituents who have lost their business and their house. One constituent’s marriage broke up. One young lad doing his first contracting job was told on the first day, "This is the way that we get paid in this place." He did not know any better; he was 21 years old and just out of university. That was how he was encouraged by the employer and, incidentally, his colleagues to undertake the scheme. He does not yet know what his liability will be. Will it be £16,000? Will it be £60,000? The uncertainty is dragging him down. At the moment, he does not even feel able to work I congratulate the right hon. Member for Haltemprice and Howden (Mr Davis) and echo the right hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton, who says that it is not a party issue. Members will agree that it is a question of natural justice and fairness, and of not reopening tax returns that had previously been signed off by HMRC. By all means let us close the loophole, but let us not drag people into this dreadful sense of natural injustice.
Loan Charge 2019: Sir Amyas Morse Review — House of Commons, 2020-03-19
Topic: Macroeconomics
Charalambos Charalambous (Labour, Centre-left): The hon. Member makes an excellent and pertinent point. We are discussing tax going back 20 years, and retrospective legislation should not be applied in this situation, because that is clearly unfair and unjust We must consider that, beyond the financial aspects of tax recovery, we are dealing with real people who need to be treated with fairness and respect. We have a moral duty to ensure that no more homes are lost, no more bankruptcies are filed, no more lives are lost and no more families are broken because of the loan charge policy.