argyrotsipi/train-dataset huggingface dataset:
Universal Credit: Household Income — House of Commons, 2017-11-28
Topic: Social Welfare
Questions: What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the effect of the roll-out of universal credit on levels of household income.
Andrew James Bridgen (Conservative, Centre-right): Would my right hon. Friend like to comment on the irresponsible scare stories put out by the BBC—first on Radio 4, then on "BBC Breakfast", on its website and across all its media platforms—that up to 100,000 people on in-work universal credit would receive no benefits over the Christmas period?
Universal Credit: Household Income — House of Commons, 2017-11-28
Topic: Social Welfare
Questions: What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the effect of the roll-out of universal credit on levels of household income.
Elizabeth Mary Truss (Conservative, Centre-right): I think it is disgraceful that that fake news was put out on our national broadcaster, when universal credit is actually helping people get into work and earn extra money. It is particularly poor that some of the lowest-income people in our society have been unnecessarily worried when, in fact, under universal credit, everybody can receive an advance on their payment.
Universal Credit: Household Income — House of Commons, 2017-11-28
Topic: Social Welfare
Questions: What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the effect of the roll-out of universal credit on levels of household income.
Elizabeth Mary Truss (Conservative, Centre-right): I can tell the hon. Lady that poverty and income inequality are, in fact, at a 30-year low, thanks to this Government’s policies. What universal credit does—rather than leaving people on the scrapheap, which is what happened under the Labour Government—is help people get into work. What we have seen is that the fastest growth in employment has been among the lowest-income people in our society.
Universal Credit: Household Income — House of Commons, 2017-11-28
Topic: Social Welfare
Questions: What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the effect of the roll-out of universal credit on levels of household income.
Stephen Charles Kerr (Conservative, Centre-right): I welcome the changes in universal credit announced in the Budget speech. Did my right hon. Friend note that, in its Budget analysis, the Institute for Fiscal Studies described the changes in universal credit as "well targeted at those who find it difficult to cope with the six week wait"?
Universal Credit: Household Income — House of Commons, 2017-11-28
Topic: Labor
Questions: What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the effect of the roll-out of universal credit on levels of household income.
Elizabeth Mary Truss (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend is absolutely right. What we have been doing is making changes to universal credit to make sure it works for absolutely everybody. We have rolled it out gradually to make sure it is effective, unlike the previous botched efforts of tax credits under the previous Labour Government. We have learned the lessons. We are helping more people get into employment. We have the lowest unemployment since 1975, and the people who have benefited most are the lowest earners in our society.
Universal Credit: Household Income — House of Commons, 2017-11-28
Topic: Social Welfare
Questions: What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the effect of the roll-out of universal credit on levels of household income.
Elizabeth Mary Truss (Conservative, Centre-right): With respect, I do not think the hon. Lady is taking into account the extra income that those families will earn because they are more likely to be in work under universal credit. That is where the benefit is. Rather than keeping people in a poverty trap, where they were losing £1 for every extra £1 they were earning, work always pays under universal credit, and people are able to earn the money they need to support their families.
Major Digital Infrastructure — House of Commons, 2017-11-28
Topic: Technology
Andrew Hanson Jones (Conservative, Centre-right): The Government are investing more than £1 billion to stimulate the market to build the next-generation digital infrastructure the UK needs for its future. At the autumn Budget, we launched a £190 million challenge fund for gold-standard full fibre broadband, provided £160 million to develop 5G networks and invested £35 million to improve mobile connectivity for rail passengers.
Major Digital Infrastructure — House of Commons, 2017-11-28
Topic: Technology
John Robert Lamont (Conservative, Centre-right): Last week, I held a Westminster Hall debate on the Scottish Government’s catastrophic failure to deliver superfast broadband for rural communities across Scotland. In that debate, the Minister for Digital confirmed that millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money has not been released by the Scottish Government to help roll out superfast broadband. What discussions has my hon. Friend had with Ministers from the Scottish Government to ensure that money gets to where it needs to be—rural communities in need of better broadband service?
Major Digital Infrastructure — House of Commons, 2017-11-28
Topic: Technology
Andrew Hanson Jones (Conservative, Centre-right): The Government are supporting the roll-out of superfast broadband right across the UK, and that has included allocating more than £120 million to help the Scottish Government deliver 100% superfast coverage in Scotland by 2021. To be specific, the Minister for Digital discussed progress with the Scottish Government on 6 November and had further discussions this week.
Major Digital Infrastructure — House of Commons, 2017-11-28
Topic: Technology
Andrew Hanson Jones (Conservative, Centre-right): I think the hon. Gentleman may have missed some of the announcements in the Budget. Perhaps I could highlight one in particular: the £740 million from the national productivity investment fund that has been allocated for digital infrastructure.
Major Digital Infrastructure — House of Commons, 2017-11-28
Topic: Macroeconomics
George William Freeman (Conservative, Centre-right): Thank you, Mr Speaker; it is nice to be back. I welcome, on behalf of my constituents, the digital announcement in the Budget last week—and the sight of a grown-up team in charge of the economy, unlike the reheated Marxists opposite. On productivity, does the Minister agree that we need public sector leadership to create a private-public partnership on digital infrastructure? May I also welcome the announcement in the Budget of a public sector leadership academy, so that we can invest in our public sector leaders?
Air Passenger Duty: Regional Airports — House of Commons, 2017-11-28
Topic: Transportation
Melvyn John Stride (Conservative, Centre-right): The Government recognise the importance of regional airports, not least for the productivity of smaller local communities. That is why, despite the fact that there is no VAT on airline tickets or duty on aviation fuel, we have frozen the APD rate for long-haul economy flights, as was announced in the Budget.
Air Passenger Duty: Regional Airports — House of Commons, 2017-11-28
Topic: Transportation
Stephen Daniel Double (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank the Minister for that reply. Many of the flights from our regional airports are internal domestic flights, on which passengers end up paying APD twice—on both legs of their journey. To support our smaller regional airports, will he consider cutting APD on internal flights by 50%, as I believe we will be able to once we leave the EU?
Air Passenger Duty: Regional Airports — House of Commons, 2017-11-28
Topic: International Affairs
Melvyn John Stride (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend raises an interesting point. This is something that we have looked to address in the past. In 1998, the European Commission ruled that we were unable to do that under state aid rules, but of course once we have left the European Union, depending on the details of the agreement under which we do that, we may be able to revisit this.
Air Passenger Duty: Regional Airports — House of Commons, 2017-11-28
Topic: Transportation
Melvyn John Stride (Conservative, Centre-right): As I have said, in this Budget we have frozen APD for long-haul economy flights. That comes on the back of a number of actions that we have taken over the years to reduce APD. In 2014, we cut it and exempted children from it on economy flights. We will continue to review it, as we do all taxes, in the light of the issues that the hon. Lady has raised.
Regional Economic Growth — House of Commons, 2017-11-28
Topic: Macroeconomics
Philip Hammond (Conservative, Centre-right): The Government recognise the importance of closing the economic gap between regions of our country as an economic and social priority, and the industrial strategy is focused on doing that. If we eliminated just half of the productivity gap with London, we would add £300 billion to our gross domestic product; that is £4,600 for every man, woman and child in this country. That is why the Budget announced a raft of measures designed to move forward our progress on that.
Regional Economic Growth — House of Commons, 2017-11-28
Topic: Macroeconomics
Philip Hammond (Conservative, Centre-right): The Government are committed to the Sheffield city region deal, which will bring £1 billion of new Government investment to the area. We recognise the debate that is going on about a possible wider Yorkshire-based deal and we are happy to consider that, if it can be done in a way that does not disrupt the existing deal that has been agreed for the Sheffield city region.
Regional Economic Growth — House of Commons, 2017-11-28
Topic: Macroeconomics
Philip Hammond (Conservative, Centre-right): We know some of the things that drive our low productivity performance. Regional differences are one of them, and others are low levels of capital investment in private businesses, relatively low levels of public infrastructure investment and poor skills. We set out in the Budget a raft of measures that will address all of them. The end result is that this Government, on average, over this Parliament will be investing £25 billion a year more in real terms than the Labour Government invested over their period in office.
Regional Economic Growth — House of Commons, 2017-11-28
Topic: Energy
Colin James Clark (Conservative, Centre-right): Will my right hon. Friend join me in welcoming the potential for £40 billion of investment in the north-east of Scotland region oil and gas industry, as a direct result of the tax relief announced in the Budget, and could he encourage the SNP and Scottish Labour to get on board?
Regional Economic Growth — House of Commons, 2017-11-28
Topic: Technology
Questions: The Chancellor is right to say that poor productivity levels and regional variations in them are closely linked to skills and education, and he will know that that starts in the very earliest years of a child’s life. So will he look kindly on a bid he has had from Greater Manchester to boost school readiness in the early years? It is a small amount of money, but it could really innovate and transform these arrangements.
Alexander John Gervase Chalk (Conservative, Centre-right): Thanks to this Government’s investment of £22 million pledged via the local enterprise partnership, Cheltenham can look forward with confidence to a cyber-hub, creating a centre of cyber-excellence in the home of GCHQ. Is that not exactly the kind of project that will drive opportunity and boost productivity in constituencies such as mine?
Regional Economic Growth — House of Commons, 2017-11-28
Topic: Technology
Questions: The Chancellor is right to say that poor productivity levels and regional variations in them are closely linked to skills and education, and he will know that that starts in the very earliest years of a child’s life. So will he look kindly on a bid he has had from Greater Manchester to boost school readiness in the early years? It is a small amount of money, but it could really innovate and transform these arrangements.
Philip Hammond (Conservative, Centre-right): It is. GCHQ is a world-class resource. The way it has engaged in seeking to use its expertise to create a world-class cyber-security business sector in the UK economy is exemplary, and we should encourage it.
Regional Economic Growth — House of Commons, 2017-11-28
Topic: Macroeconomics
Questions: The Chancellor is right to say that poor productivity levels and regional variations in them are closely linked to skills and education, and he will know that that starts in the very earliest years of a child’s life. So will he look kindly on a bid he has had from Greater Manchester to boost school readiness in the early years? It is a small amount of money, but it could really innovate and transform these arrangements.
Philip Hammond (Conservative, Centre-right): I do not like to blow my own trumpet, but on the whole I think my jokes were better than the hon. Gentleman’s. As I said to the hon. Member for Barnsley Central (Dan Jarvis), the Sheffield city region deal would bring £1 billion of new Government investment into the area, which will stimulate local economic growth and job creation, and support upskilling in the area and improvement of the infrastructure. Doing these deals around the country and making funds available to local authorities—they know best what is necessary for their areas —is the way to deliver enhanced economic growth.
Regional Economic Growth — House of Commons, 2017-11-28
Topic: Macroeconomics
Questions: The Chancellor is right to say that poor productivity levels and regional variations in them are closely linked to skills and education, and he will know that that starts in the very earliest years of a child’s life. So will he look kindly on a bid he has had from Greater Manchester to boost school readiness in the early years? It is a small amount of money, but it could really innovate and transform these arrangements.
Philip Hammond (Conservative, Centre-right): There are many things in which we can invest in every region of the country, and I am pretty confident that I could take £1 billion to any region of the UK and invest it in a way that would enhance productivity and stimulate economic growth.
Manufacturing Industry: Lesser Duty Rule — House of Commons, 2017-11-28
Topic: Foreign Trade
Melvyn John Stride (Conservative, Centre-right): When we leave the European Union, we will ensure that we have a robust remedies regime in place. It will ensure that we have robust measures to take against dumping, excessive subsidy and import surges. Part of that will be a lesser duty rule, as we have with the European Union at present, to ensure that the measures we take are proportionate in protecting our producers at the same time as protecting the interests of consumers and other downstream businesses.
Government Expenditure: Young People — House of Commons, 2017-11-28
Topic: Education
Elizabeth Mary Truss (Conservative, Centre-right): I point out to the hon. Gentleman that youth unemployment rose under the previous Labour Government and was 20% when they left office. They let down young people, with stagnating standards in English and maths, rampant grade inflation and rising youth unemployment. Under this Government, we are increasing the number of apprenticeships, we have improved the school curriculum, we have brought in new academies and free schools, and youth unemployment is at its lowest level for over 13 years.
UK Economic Growth — House of Commons, 2017-11-28
Topic: Macroeconomics
Stephen Paul Barclay (Conservative, Centre-right): The UK economy is fundamentally strong: we have seen 19 consecutive quarters of growth; unemployment is at its lowest level for 42 years; and the Office for Budget Responsibility forecasts that a further 600,000 people will be in work by 2022.
UK Economic Growth — House of Commons, 2017-11-28
Topic: Transportation
Edmund Francis Hughes (Conservative, Centre-right): Does my hon. Friend agree that it is only by investing heavily in productivity and infrastructure, such as the new junction 10 of the M6 in Walsall, that we can truly build a Britain that is fit for the future?
UK Economic Growth — House of Commons, 2017-11-28
Topic: Macroeconomics
Nicky Morgan (Conservative, Centre-right): The Office for Budget Responsibility forecasts last week did show the UK economy growing over the forecast period, but only just. My hon. Friend will be aware that much of the economic growth has relied on household spending. Is he also aware of the Bank of England’s financial stability report, published this morning, which shows that household finances are starting to deteriorate somewhat? Can he provide confidence that the Government are aware of that and say what they are doing to help households maintain their balance sheets?
National Living Wage — House of Commons, 2017-11-28
Topic: Labor
Elizabeth Mary Truss (Conservative, Centre-right): As I have just pointed out, younger workers are getting a bigger rise than those over the age of 25. The reason there is a lower rate is that it is vital to ensure that young people get into work, get work experience and build up their skills. We do not want to end up where we were at the end of the Labour Government, with 20% youth unemployment and young people losing out on opportunities for life.
Major Infrastructure Projects — House of Commons, 2017-11-28
Topic: Transportation
Philip Hammond (Conservative, Centre-right): We are expanding the national productivity investment fund to provide £31 billion of investment. That includes a £1.7 billion transport fund to transform our great cities and a more than doubling of the housing infrastructure fund to £5 billion. We have published the "National Infrastructure and Construction Pipeline" and are delivering the largest rail modernisation since Victorian times, the biggest road investment programme since the 1970s and two of the largest engineering projects in Europe—Crossrail and HS2. Taken together, that means that the Government will invest, on average, £25 billion more per annum in real terms than was invested during the 1997 to 2010 Government.
Major Infrastructure Projects — House of Commons, 2017-11-28
Topic: Transportation
Lucy Claire Leigh (Frazer) (Conservative, Centre-right): I welcome the investment in infrastructure, in particular in the Oxford to Cambridge corridor, which will bring significant benefit to my area. It is important that when we plan more houses, we get the infrastructure in place before the housing. Does the Chancellor agree with that proposition?
Major Infrastructure Projects — House of Commons, 2017-11-28
Topic: Transportation
Sheryll Murray (Conservative, Centre-right): Over the last few months, we have seen many accidents on the main artery through my constituency, on the A38. I am currently working with partners to ensure the much-needed urgent improvements on the road. Will the Treasury make sure that the extra investment in our roads can enable this work to get under way?
Major Infrastructure Projects — House of Commons, 2017-11-28
Topic: Transportation
Philip Hammond (Conservative, Centre-right): Yes, we have committed to investing over £2 billion in the strategic road network in the south-west, including the first steps towards transforming the A303-A358 route and upgrading sections of the A30. Safety is one of the Government’s top priorities, and improvements to strategic roads with safety concerns, such as the A38, will be considered for inclusion within the portfolio of schemes in the second road investment strategy.
Major Infrastructure Projects — House of Commons, 2017-11-28
Topic: Transportation
Philip Hammond (Conservative, Centre-right): I am certainly happy to look at the information we hold and whether it could be presented in a way that satisfies the hon. Gentleman’s requirements. It is a legitimate question. Much of this infrastructure investment will have an impact across the country. For example, investment in HS2 will benefit parts of the north of England far more than many of the areas through which the railway will run.
Major Infrastructure Projects — House of Commons, 2017-11-28
Topic: Transportation
Questions: In advance of the huge numbers of additional houses expected to be built in Medway by 2035, plus the additional traffic that will come with the new Thames crossing, and given the congestion issues already facing commuters and trade across north Kent, will the Chancellor outline plans to boost investment in the region’s strategic transport network?
Philip Hammond (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Gentleman says the Government have reneged on a promise to electrify the railway. What passengers care about is the quality of service, the frequency of service, the reliability of service and the speed of the service, and train technology has moved on, such that all those requirements can be met with the new hybrid trains being deployed on that network.
National Debt — House of Commons, 2017-11-28
Topic: Macroeconomics
Stephen Paul Barclay (Conservative, Centre-right): As a result of the Government’s action to bring the public finances back under control, the Office for Budget Responsibility has forecast a sustained reduction in debt as a share of GDP from next year onwards. Debt will fall from 86.5% to 79.1% of GDP by 2022-23. That will be the first sustained decline in debt for 17 years.
National Debt — House of Commons, 2017-11-28
Topic: Macroeconomics
Stephen Paul Barclay (Conservative, Centre-right): Increasing debt by £500 billion would increase debt interest by £7 billion a year, which would reduce our economic and fiscal resilience, crowd out spending on valuable services, and pass a greater debt burden to future generations.
Youth Unemployment — House of Commons, 2017-11-28
Topic: Labor
Elizabeth Mary Truss (Conservative, Centre-right): Youth unemployment has decreased by 8.3% since 2010 and is now at its lowest rate for more than 13 years, but we are not complacent, which is why we are investing in skills to get more of our young people into jobs.
Youth Unemployment — House of Commons, 2017-11-28
Topic: Labor
James Morris (Conservative, Centre-right): The Government have made significant progress in reducing youth unemployment, but in part of the area that I represent in the black country too many young people are emerging from education with a lack of basic skills, which is holding the region back. Does my right hon. Friend agree that we need to continue to invest in skills, particularly for those young people who lack basic skills, so that they can take advantage of the opportunities that are out there?
Youth Unemployment — House of Commons, 2017-11-28
Topic: Education
Elizabeth Mary Truss (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend is absolutely right. We are providing extra money in the Budget to triple the number of computer science teachers and give £600 to every school and sixth-form college where students take core or A-level maths, to ensure that all young people have the best possible start in life.
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2017-11-28
Topic: Macroeconomics
Philip Hammond (Conservative, Centre-right): The Budget laid out the Government’s vision for a global Britain after we leave the European Union, and our ambitious plans to tackle the long-term challenges that we face so that we can build an economy that is fit for the future. Our balanced approach enables us to give households and businesses the support that they will need in the near term, as well as investing in the future of this country. Through investment in research and development, infrastructure, skills and housing, we will seize the opportunities of a rapidly changing economy, while being fair to the next generation by reducing a national debt that remains too large.