argyrotsipi/train-dataset huggingface dataset:
Brexit Opportunities: Discussions with Welsh Government — House of Commons, 2022-06-09
Topic: Transportation
Questions: What recent discussions the Minister for Brexit Opportunities has had with the Welsh Government on the UK Government’s assessment of the potential merits of the UK having left the EU.
Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): Post-Brexit freight traffic through Holyhead is down by 34%—permanently so. This is not teething troubles and it is not post covid; it is a permanent failure. In January last year, the Secretary of State for Wales told me that he was in talks with the Welsh Government to make sure that Holyhead "flourishes". Eighteen months later, does this Minister consider that Holyhead is flourishing?
Food Price Inflation — House of Commons, 2022-05-19
Topic: Social Welfare
Ben Morgan Lake (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): The Secretary of State may be aware that in Wales a policy of providing free school meals to all primary school children is being progressed thanks to an agreement between Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Government. Will he speak with colleagues in the Treasury about potentially uprating the public sector budget so that that important provision is not affected by rising food prices?
Prisoner Literacy — House of Commons, 2022-05-24
Topic: Law and Crime
Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): Diolch yn fawr, Lefarydd. Education and literacy highlight the inconsistency between what is devolved and what is reserved in relation to justice in Wales. Does the Minister therefore welcome Welsh Government’s proposals, published today, to further the devolution of justice in Wales, and will she commit to work with Welsh Government to further those proposals?
Standards in Public Life — House of Commons, 2022-06-07
Topic: Government Operations
Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): It is extraordinary not only that the Prime Minister can refuse permission for an investigation to be undertaken but that there is no obligation on him to explain why. I am sure the right hon. Lady will agree that, in the circumstances, it is no surprise that more and more people are losing faith in the parliamentary system per se, and that we in Wales are therefore truly questioning whether we cannot do this better for ourselves.
Ukraine — House of Commons, 2022-02-22
Topic: International Affairs
Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): Putin last night confirmed that he is a ruthless imperialist posed to destroy Ukraine’s sovereignty and self-determination. I, too, am grateful for the briefing from the National Security Adviser. We must now hit Putin where it hurts. As of this morning, BP’s website proudly proclaims that it is "one of the biggest foreign investors in Russia", owning nearly 20% of Russia’s oil giant, Rosneft. Rosneft also has a secondary holding in London. Will the Prime Minister commit to imposing legally mandated divestment by UK firms in Russia, and if not now, when?
Sanctions — House of Commons, 2022-02-22
Topic: International Affairs
David Jonathan Edwards (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): I am grateful that the Minister has emphasised the need for humanitarian support very early in this debate, because we are dealing with punitive actions. The Prime Minister himself said in his statement that, in a worst-case scenario, 44 million people could get pulled into a very aggressive war, which would mean a refugee crisis. What specific support are the British Government and their partners offering to provide to the neighbouring countries that would have to deal with the displacement of such individuals leaving Ukraine?
Sanctions — House of Commons, 2022-02-28
Topic: International Affairs
Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): I welcome BP’s decision to divest from Rosneft after I raised the issue with the Prime Minister last week International sanctions now include Russia’s civilian aircraft fleet. The UK has a part to play in their enforcement because, as of yesterday, 713 leased Russian aircraft are registered in Bermuda, a British overseas territory. For far too long, weak UK regulation of Londongrad and tax haven overseas territories has enabled Putin’s regime. What discussions has the right hon. Lady had with the British overseas territories to ensure the immediate and effective implementation of UK sanctions against Russia?
Ukraine Update — House of Commons, 2022-04-25
Topic: International Affairs
David Jonathan Edwards (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): Ukraine is facing a financial crisis, with the Financial Times reporting that revenues are at around half of pre-war levels, and the fiscal gap for this month alone is projected to be $7 billion. The International Monetary Fund has approved an administered account for countries to make donations through a secure vehicle. Has the UK made a contribution to the account? What efforts are being made, together with partners, to provide Ukraine with hard cash?
National Insurance Contributions Increase — House of Commons, 2022-03-08
Topic: Energy
David Jonathan Edwards (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): I fully support what the hon. Lady is saying. Does she agree that some of the measures we have seen for dealing with the cost of living crisis—for instance, the energy rebate—might now make matters worse? That rebate works on the basis that it will be repaid over subsequent years, and will only really work if energy prices normalise or fall, but all projections now indicate that energy prices will rise and rise, so the Government’s interventions are going to be inflationary and add to the problems people are facing.
Costs of Living: Households and Businesses — House of Commons, 2022-05-25
Topic: Energy
Questions: What recent steps the Government have taken to mitigate the impact of rising costs of living on (a) households and (b) businesses in Wales.; What recent steps the Government have taken to mitigate the impact of rising costs of living on (a) households and (b) businesses in Wales.; What recent steps the Government have taken to mitigate the impact of rising costs of living on (a) households and (b) businesses in Wales.
Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): I add my party’s commiserations to everybody affected by the bus accident in Llanfair Caereinion The Oakeley Arms in my constituency is a superb inn located in a grade II listed building at the heart of Snowdonia national park. It is off grid, it is limited by regulations on energy efficiency measures and its owners now face a quadrupling in energy bills. Does the Secretary of State agree that small businesses need more support? Will he speak to the Chancellor about extending the price cap to our hard-pressed small and medium-sized businesses?
Costs of Living: Households and Businesses — House of Commons, 2022-05-25
Topic: Macroeconomics
Questions: What recent steps the Government have taken to mitigate the impact of rising costs of living on (a) households and (b) businesses in Wales.; What recent steps the Government have taken to mitigate the impact of rising costs of living on (a) households and (b) businesses in Wales.; What recent steps the Government have taken to mitigate the impact of rising costs of living on (a) households and (b) businesses in Wales.
Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): If the Secretary of State kept to the powers he has in Westminster, perhaps he would have better support. There are now no Tory councillors in any of the Plaid-held councils along the west coast of Wales Rumours of an economic package are rife, not because the Government care about struggling households and businesses but because, of course, they want to distract from their own lawbreaking. Household energy bills will likely increase to £2,800 in the autumn, yet the Chancellor is sitting on his hands until it proves politically convenient. Is the Secretary of State not ashamed of his Government’s behaviour?
Sue Gray Report — House of Commons, 2022-05-25
Topic: Government Operations
Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): To call this a damning report for the Prime Minister is an understatement. It states: "The senior leadership at the centre, both political and official, must bear responsibility for this culture." For 168 days, the Prime Minister has used Sue Gray as a human shield against this duty. In this farce of a parliamentary system, it is now all down to Tory MPs—and there are not many of them left in the Chamber—to grow a backbone and oust this moral vacuum of a Prime Minister. Will he spare them the trouble and resign?
Ukraine — House of Commons, 2022-05-25
Topic: International Affairs
David Jonathan Edwards (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): Before the Minister moves on to the subject of NATO commitments, may I raise the subject of direct support for Ukraine? As he knows, it has historical debt problems, and the invasion will obviously have a huge economic impact; the statistics are clear to us all. Can the Minister say something about the co-ordination of direct international financial support for Ukraine, and how we can keep the country solvent during a time when that is a very pressing matter for it?
Ukraine — House of Commons, 2022-05-25
Topic: International Affairs
David Jonathan Edwards (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): Following on from what the hon. Member for Caerphilly (Wayne David) said, I, too, believe that it will be a long-term conflict. Does the shadow Minister agree that, on top of the containment strategy that we will have to have in place for Russia, we will also need a strategy that offers Russia an alternative path for the post-Putin era, whenever that comes, so that it can resume normal international relations if it respects its neighbours?
Agricultural Exports to EU — House of Commons, 2022-03-03
Topic: Foreign Trade
Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): The British Veterinary Association reports that over the past two years the number of EU vets registering for work in the UK has fallen by two thirds, while demand for food-related export certificates has increased 12-fold, by 1,255%. Wales was denied a seat at the trade negotiations, of course, and now Welsh farmers face increased competition from New Zealand and Australia. Is the hon. Gentleman really satisfied that his Government here in London are supporting Welsh food exports?
Welsh Affairs — House of Commons, 2022-03-03
Topic: International Affairs
Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): I am sure that we would not want to forget the brave people in Russia and the Russian people living in this country who are protesting against the war. I organised a large rally in Caernarfon last Saturday, where I spoke to a Russian lady who lives locally. She told me through her tears that this was the first time she had ever felt ashamed of being Russian. She was there with a Ukrainian friend. There are also people in Russia who are standing up and protesting against the war, and we should support them as fully as we can.
Russian Oil Import Ban — House of Commons, 2022-03-09
Topic: Energy
Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): Putin’s bloody war in Ukraine is being financed by Europe’s addiction to fossil fuels, so we have to speed up our green transition, but more than one in 10 Welsh households are living in fuel poverty and the number is growing daily. Starved of public transport investment, Wales is the most car-dependent nation in the UK, so we will be disproportionately affected by rising prices. Rural regions of Scotland and England with high levels of car dependency are eligible for the rural fuel duty relief. Will the Secretary of State extend that to Wales?
Russian Oil Import Ban — House of Commons, 2022-03-09
Topic: International Affairs
David Jonathan Edwards (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): The Secretary of State mentioned in his statement the need to protect the Ukrainian people from further misery. As he knows, Ukraine is a country with historical debt problems, and the full-scale Russian invasion we are witnessing will inevitably make matters worse for them. Considering this is likely to be a prolonged crisis, can he assure the House that the British Government will be leading international efforts with the IMF, the World Bank and the G7 to offer Ukraine debt relief?
Professional Qualifications Bill [Lords] — House of Commons, 2022-03-14
Topic: Government Operations
Ben Morgan Lake (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): I do not intend to detain the House for long, but it is a pleasure to rise to speak in support of Plaid Cymru’s new clause 5, which would require the Secretary of State or the Lord Chancellor to obtain the consent of the devolved Governments when acting in areas of devolved competence. Although I will not be seeking to divide the House on that, I hope that the new clause, alongside the repeated interventions of the devolved nations, will encourage the Government to reconsider their approach In its current form, the Bill represents an example of the Government legislating in devolved matters without having first secured the consent of Wales’s Parliament or, indeed, consent from any of the devolved nations. It betrays a blatant disregard for the constitutional framework of the UK, and further obscures the regulatory regime for workers, businesses and professional qualification providers. Hon. Members should not mistake these concerns as mere trivial matters; they speak to the growing chasm of distrust between the Governments of the British Isles. Indeed, just last week, the Welsh Labour Education Minister accused the UK Government of acting in a manner that breaches the Sewel convention. Let us consider, for a moment, the implications of that statement: a Government Minister from one nation is accusing the Government of another of tearing up the constitutional convention that has been so instrumental in ensuring good governance and positive intergovernmental collaboration across our isles. That is what this Government and this Prime Minister are doing to the UK and that is why this Bill needs to be amended to respect the devolution settlement As I said, I will not be pushing our new clause to a vote tonight, but we will be supporting amendment 3 if it is put to a Division. I hope that Opposition Members as well as Government Members will acknowledge the seriousness of these constitutional concerns and accept the amendment as a first step towards government by consent, rather than imposition.
Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill — House of Commons, 2022-06-15
Topic: Agriculture
Ben Morgan Lake (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): On definitions, the Secretary of State may be aware that the British Veterinary Association has expressed some concern that perhaps the definitions have been broadened somewhat in the Bill—in particular, that organisms or techniques that would insert exogenous genetic material could be allowed under those definitions. Can he confirm whether that is indeed the case?
EU Retained Law — House of Commons, 2022-06-22
Topic: Macroeconomics
David Jonathan Edwards (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): The Minister mentioned in his statement that he hopes that today’s proposals will reduce the cost of living, but is it not the case that the British Government’s post-Brexit policy is leading to reduced investor confidence and weakening the currency, which further fuels inflation? Would not a responsible Government, given the serious problems faced by households across the UK, stop shredding European regulations and rejoin the single market?
Social Security (Additional Payments) Bill — House of Commons, 2022-06-22
Topic: Energy
David Jonathan Edwards (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): There is an issue with people who live in park homes—I have a few sites in my constituency—because the energy rebate does not make it through to them. Are the Government looking at innovative ways of addressing the issues faced by those individuals and households?
Social Security (Additional Payments) Bill — House of Commons, 2022-06-22
Topic: Social Welfare
Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): One group of people who receive universal credit and are in some difficulty are those who lose some of their universal credit because they received a universal credit advance for the first five weeks. Some 92,000 households in that situation in Wales are getting about £60 a month less, and that comes to a total of about £5 million being denied to them. I hope that the Secretary of State is prepared to reconsider her position on that. Obviously, that is not in the Bill, so she has taken a decision in the short term, but I press her to reconsider.
Social Security (Additional Payments) Bill — House of Commons, 2022-06-22
Topic: Social Welfare
David Jonathan Edwards (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): Does the shadow Secretary of State agree that missing from the Bill is any support for unpaid carers, and does he share my hope that the Government will bring forward proposals in the near future to help that group?
High Speed Rail (Crewe - Manchester) Bill — House of Commons, 2022-06-20
Topic: Transportation
Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): I am sure the Minister appreciates that even the Tory leader in the Senedd has now said that we in Wales should receive our fair share of HS2 funding. When will her Government respect this clear and—I emphasise this—cross-party message? Or will they continue to sell Wales short?
High Speed Rail (Crewe - Manchester) Bill — House of Commons, 2022-06-20
Topic: Transportation
David Jonathan Edwards (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): Further to the point raised by my right hon. Friend the Member for Dwyfor Meirionnydd (Liz Saville Roberts), is it not the case under the current constitutional arrangements that every political party in Wales has concerns about HS2’s funding? Nearly every single politician in Wales, including Ministers in the Wales Office, have concerns about this issue, yet the British Government can ignore their concerns.
Adviser on Ministerial Interests — House of Commons, 2022-06-21
Topic: Government Operations
Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): Of course, the resignation of yet another ethics adviser will do little to quieten public concerns that there is something very rotten at the heart of this Government. Next week, I will be presenting a ten-minute rule Bill that would make lying in politics illegal and give our constituents confidence that we are serious about forcing a change of culture within our political system. Does the right hon. Member agree with me that the present culture is corroding trust in politics and democracy?
Food Prices — House of Commons, 2022-03-10
Topic: Agriculture
Ben Morgan Lake (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): The Secretary of State will be aware of widespread concern that the rising cost of fertiliser will add further inflationary pressures to the price of food. Indeed, I have been told by one farmer of a quote for £930 a tonne plus VAT for a shipment that last year cost about £280. What steps can the Government take to address this crisis and ensure that our food security is not undermined?
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2022-03-10
Topic: Foreign Trade
David Jonathan Edwards (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): The amount of meat imported to the UK as a result of the trade deals with New Zealand and Australia will vary considerably, depending on whether it is in carcass form or deboned. Are there any nuances in those trade deals stipulating that the meat coming in should be in carcass form, which will not only limit the amount of meat imported but ensure that the added value of the produce is obtained here?
Channel 4 Privatisation — House of Commons, 2022-04-27
Topic: Technology
Ben Morgan Lake (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): Diolch, Madam Deputy Speaker. I echo concerns that others have raised that the privatisation of Channel 4 might jeopardise its investment in communities across the UK as part of its public service remit, and its quotas relating to commissioning content in each nation of the United Kingdom. That investment has amounted to more than £77 million in Wales in the past 10 years, and supported over 200 jobs in 2019 alone. Will the Minister elaborate on how the Government will seek to ensure that that valuable contribution continues, even if privatisation proceeds?
Prime Minister’s Visit to India — House of Commons, 2022-04-26
Topic: International Affairs
Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): Mr Modi has the right to set India’s own foreign policy, of course, but did the Prime Minister specifically raise India’s continuing trade with Russia and Mr Modi’s decision to abstain on the UN motion condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine?
HM Passport Office Backlog — House of Commons, 2022-06-14
Topic: Transportation
Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): I am sure the hon. Gentleman will share my dismay at learning that a professional seafarer was forced to miss the crew change on his vessel having waited for 11 weeks to receive a replacement for a damaged passport, specifically because of this Government’s inefficiency. This is a professional seafarer who is a key worker forced to miss his crew change. It is not just a matter of holidays—it is affecting people professionally as well.
Countering Russian Aggression and Tackling Illicit Finance — House of Commons, 2022-02-23
Topic: International Affairs
David Jonathan Edwards (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): The right hon. Gentleman rightly emphasises what the UK can do to clean up matters in the UK. One commentator has talked about the need to tackle what he calls the ecosystem of Russian influence over UK democracy, which would mean going further and including direct donations to politicians—some of whom are Members of this House—the actions of public affairs companies and lobbying companies, and in particular the funding of think-tanks. Does he agree that a very comprehensive package of measures is needed?
Countering Russian Aggression and Tackling Illicit Finance — House of Commons, 2022-02-23
Topic: International Affairs
Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): I agree with the Minister’s fine words, but two weeks ago, the Prime Minister told the House, on Ukraine, that the UK’s role was "to lead the West". In the meantime, Germany has put Nord Stream 2 on hold indefinitely. Today, the European Union has sanctioned Duma deputies, the Russian Defence Minister and the Russian air force and Black sea fleet commanders, and it has brought in asset freezes and sanctioned 23 individuals, five banks and an internet troll factory. The USA has also extended sanctions. Is the UK actually leading the west?
Countering Russian Aggression and Tackling Illicit Finance — House of Commons, 2022-02-23
Topic: Energy
David Jonathan Edwards (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): I am grateful to the Minister. Is there not a danger that the UK has taken a peashooter to a bazooka contest? As we are targeting a few individuals and a few peripheral banks, the Kremlin can sit back and allow oil and gas prices to rise, which will hit every single household in the UK.
Countering Russian Aggression and Tackling Illicit Finance — House of Commons, 2022-02-23
Topic: International Affairs
David Jonathan Edwards (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): Does this whole crisis not demonstrate the strategic malfunction of the Conservative party’s obsession with the European Union over the years, especially given all the negative energy that has consumed politics in this place over the last five years in the fallout from Brexit? We have taken our eye off the ball when it comes to the biggest foreign policy challenges that the UK—the state—faces.
Support for the Welsh Economy and Funding for the Devolved Institutions — House of Commons, 2022-07-05
Topic: Social Welfare
Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru, Centre-left to left): Apart from the debates that the right hon. Gentleman has mentioned, there is also the work of the Welsh Affairs Committee, of which I was a member for many years. I understand that the Committee published its report on the benefit system in March. Has he had any response from the Government to that report?