Valerie Vaz MP: written questions
26 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) BillAttorney GeneralTabled 29 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48892More
Question: To ask the Solicitor General, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of making her advice to Cabinet colleagues on the legal implications of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill available in the public interest.
Answer: The fact that the Law Officers have advised or have not advised, and the content of their advice, must not be disclosed outside government without their authority. This principle is known as the Law Officers’ Convention and can be found at paragraphs 21.2...
Answered 6 May 2025
Original Parliament recordTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill: Impact AssessmentsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 23 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47201More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish the (a) impact, (b) economic and (c) equalities assessments for the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill before 8 May 2025.
Answer: The Government expects to publish the impact assessment and equalities impact assessment before Members consider the Bill on Report.
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) BillAttorney GeneralTabled 23 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47200More
Question: To ask the Solicitor General, whether he has produced legal advice on the compatibility of (a) Article 2 of the European Commission on Human Rights, (b) probate law and (c) civil procedure rules with the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill.
Answer: The Law Officers’ Convention applies to advice which may or may not have been given by, or requested of, the Law Officers, and it applies to your question.The Convention can be found at paragraph 21.27 of Erskine May:“By long-standing convention, observed...
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordPolice: BillsAttorney GeneralTabled 23 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47199More
Question: To ask the Solicitor General, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of making her advice to Cabinet colleagues on the legal implications of bills available to the police.
Answer: The fact that the Law Officers advise on Bills through the government collective agreement process before they are introduced to Parliament is public knowledge. However, on specific matters, the fact that the Law Officers have advised or have not advised,...
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordTrade Agreements: European UnionCabinet OfficeTabled 23 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47198More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will take steps to begin negotiations for a new trade agreement with the EU.
Answer: I am responding as the Minister responsible for EU relations. This government is committed to improving the UK’s trade and investment relationship with the EU to tackle unnecessary barriers to trade, including by seeking to negotiate a SPS agreement. We a...
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordUK Trade with EUDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 23 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47197More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the requirements for (a) 24-hour pre-notification of invoices, (b) physical vehicle checks and (c) refusals of clearing charges by EU cust
Answer: The UK and EU are like-minded partners with similarly high standards. We have been clear that the trading relationship can be improved, and that is why we are working with the EU to identify areas where we can strengthen cooperation for mutual benefit, su...
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordImport Duties: USADepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 22 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46711More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he plans to introduce an energy rebate for companies impacted by the imposition of tariffs.
Answer: The Government believes that our mission to deliver clean power by 2030 is the best way to break our dependence on global fossil fuel markets and protect billpayers permanently. The creation of Great British Energy will help us to harness clean energy wit...
Answered 25 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordImport Duties: USADepartment for Business and TradeTabled 22 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46710More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the loss of supply routes to the US following the imposition of tariffs on UK companies; and if he will consider tariffs on imported metal goods.
Answer: The Department for Business and Trade are working closely with colleagues in DfT to understand and assess the impacts on supply routes of goods globally due to US tariffs. This is complex analysis and requires collaboration between multiple government dep...
Answered 30 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: SubsidiesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 22 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46709More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what Rural Payments Schemes are available to (a) farmers and (b) rural businesses in the next financial year; and how much has been paid out under those schemes in this financial year.
Answer: Defra operates a page on gov.uk, “Funding for farmers, growers and land managers” ( https://www.gov.uk/guidance/funding-for-farmers ). This page advises about grants and other funding currently open or opening soon and includes links to the relevant schem...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordPensions: Widowed PeopleHome OfficeTabled 22 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46708More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her policy is on police (a) widows, (b) widowers and (c) surviving partners losing deceased spouse pensions if they (i) remarry and (ii) cohabit.
Answer: The 2015 police pension scheme is the scheme currently open to serving police officers. This scheme provides life-long survivor benefits for spouses, civil partners and unmarried partners, including those who remarry or cohabit after losing a spouse. The ...
Answered 25 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSchools: Walsall and BloxwichDepartment for EducationTabled 22 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46707More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made a recent assessment of the prevalence of asbestos in school buildings in Walsall and Bloxwich constituency.
Answer: The department takes the safety of children and those who work with them incredibly seriously, which is why we expect all local authorities, governing bodies and academy trusts as responsible bodies to have robust plans in place to manage asbestos in scho...
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordReadingDepartment for EducationTabled 18 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20960More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the 2008 National Year of Reading, if she will make it her policy to organise a Year of Reading in 2026.
Answer: Excellent foundations in reading and writing are at the heart of the government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and give every child the best start in life.We know that reading for pleasure is hugely important and brings a significant ran...
Answered 7 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordHoliday Activities and Food ProgrammeDepartment for EducationTabled 18 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20959More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 5 December 2024 to Question 17058 on Holiday Activities and Food Programme, whether she plans to make a statement on continued funding of the Holidays Activities and Food Programme bef
Answer: The department’s budgets for 2025/26 will be confirmed in due course, including the exact funding available for this type of support for children, young people and families during the holidays.
Answered 6 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordListed Places of Worship Grant SchemeDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 18 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20958More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 18 October 2024 to Question 8623 on Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, whether she plans to make a statement on continued funding of the Listed Places of Worship Gra
Answer: Yes, we will announce the outcomes of the Business Planning process, including any implications for the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme soon.
Answered 6 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordPolice: West MidlandsHome OfficeTabled 26 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16178More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) police officers and (b) police community support officers there were in (i) rural and (ii) urban areas in the West Midlands in each year since 2019; and if she will make an estimate of th
Answer: The Home Office does not hold information on the number of police officers and Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) specifically in rural and urban areas of West Midlands.The Home Office collects and publishes data on the size of the police workforce...
Answered 4 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordPolice: West MidlandsHome OfficeTabled 26 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16177More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the distribution of Police Uplift Programme funding on the safety of poorer communities in the West Midlands.
Answer: West Midlands Police was allocated a total of £2,547.1m during the period covered by the previous Government’s Police Uplift Programme.By the end of the Police Uplift Programme West Midlands Police recruited 1,376 additional uplift officers (headcount) ag...
Answered 4 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordPolice: West MidlandsHome OfficeTabled 26 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16176More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the policing funding formula for meeting need in the West Midlands.
Answer: This Government is determined to ensure the police have the resources they need to protect our communities.On 19th November, the Home Secretary announced that government funding for policing will increase by over half a billion pounds; this includes an in...
Answered 4 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordPolice: West MidlandsHome OfficeTabled 26 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16175More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the level of funding that will be required for policing in (a) the West Midlands and (b) Walsall and Bloxwich constituency in each of the next three years; and how much f
Answer: This Government is determined to ensure the police have the resources they need to protect our communities.On 19th November, the Home Secretary announced that government funding for policing will increase by over half a billion pounds; this includes an in...
Answered 4 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordPoliceHome OfficeTabled 26 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16174More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate her Department has made of the number of additional (a) police officers, (b) police community support officers and (c) special constables there will be in each police force in each of th
Answer: As part of the Government’s Safer Streets mission, the Home Secretary has made a clear commitment to strengthen neighbourhood policing through the introduction of a Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee. This includes delivering an additional 13,000 police off...
Answered 4 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordHorticulture: ExportsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13766More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the horticultural industry on changes to phytosanitary certificates.
Answer: Defra engages with GB businesses well in advance of any such changes, through the Plant Health Portal and Plant Health Advisory Forum Any changes to the required content of phytosanitary certificates are communicated to third country trading partners via...
Answered 18 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordAnimal and Plant Health Agency: StaffDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13765More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many inspectors work for the Animal and Plant Health Agency; and if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the number of inspectors for protecting the UK's biosecurity.
Answer: Below is the number of inspectors the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has in post at Executive Officer (EO) and Higher Executive Officer (HEO) grade, along with the number of Senior Executive Officers (SEO) who also support delivery. APHA also has a...
Answered 20 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordHorticulture: UK Trade with EUDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13762More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with the horticultural industry on the potential impact of EU-UK border processes on biosecurity.
Answer: Defra continues to monitor and review the impact of the controls. We are working closely with industry, trade partners and enforcement agencies to minimise disruption and costs to trade, while continuing to protect our biosecurity. Defra engages with the ...
Answered 18 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordBowel Cancer: WalsallDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 11 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13449More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the two year survival rate for patients with bowel cancer in Walsall; and what assessment he has made of the impact of levels of availability of robotics for cancer ope
Answer: The Department has not made a specific estimate on the two-year survival rate for patients with bowel cancer in Walsall, however, the Department is focused on improving survival rates for all cancers, and on meeting all National Health Service cancer wait...
Answered 14 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordWalsall Manor Hospital: CancerDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 11 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13448More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the level of robotics capability for cancer operations at Walsall Manor Hospital.
Answer: No specific assessment is planned. There is a robotic assisted surgery clinical strategy for the Black Country Provider Collaborative which has increased robotic surgery access for all patients in the Black Country, particularly for renal service.
Answered 14 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordUK Trade with EU: ExportsDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 5 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 4361More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with businesses that trade with the EU on the potential impact of inconsistent application of border controls on the (a) time taken for goods to clear EU customs and (b) cos
Answer: The Government is committed to tackling barriers to trade, including reducing frictions at the UK Border.To do this we need effective dialogue with businesses. Minister Thomas and I recently hosted a roundtable to gather businesses’ views on how to improv...
Answered 12 Sept 2024
Original Parliament record
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