Valerie Vaz MP: speeches

149 published records · newest first.

Speeches

17 Jul 2025 · RAF Photographic Reconnaissance Unit · Hansard source
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As the hon. Members who have spoken so far have been so good with their time, other Members have a bit more time.
3 Jul 2025 · Music Education · Hansard source
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Order. We will not get a chance for Mr Charalambous to wind up if the Minister has not finished. Has she finished?
3 Jul 2025 · Music Education · Hansard source
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The hon. Member has failed to take the opportunity to give us a verse of “Kumbaya”.
3 Jul 2025 · Music Education · Hansard source
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Order. Will the Minister wind up?
7 May 2025 · India-Pakistan: Escalation · Hansard source
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I thank the Minister for coming to the House so soon. Could he confirm when he or his Department last met the ambassadors of India and Pakistan, and will he ensure that the dialogue continues with them?
24 Mar 2025 · Planning and Infrastructure Bill · Hansard source
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It is a pleasure to follow the shadow Secretary of State. As we heard from the Secretary of State and Deputy Prime Minister, this is rightly an ambitious Bill, with 97 clauses and six schedules. I will focus on part 2, which deals with planning decisions, because it is important for our constituents and because in the past I undertook planning cases for the Treasury Solicitor’s Department, when our client, the Planning Inspectorate, was affectionately known as PINS—just the pins; no needles. Careful thought needs to be given to the transparency of decisions. The Deputy Prime Minister mentioned consultation. Some local authorities count abstentions as a vote in favour while others do not, so will she consider introducing a standard process throughout the country? I hope that all decisions will be based on judicial review principles, whether they are made by a committee or by individual officers. Clause 45 concerns training for local planning authorities. I know that there are committee members who, even after being given some training, would not know a material consideration if it hit them in the face. Given that some of the decisions may be controversial, our constituents need to be reassured that they can have confidence that the system is rules-based and features procedural fairness, adequacy of reasoning and no actual or apparent bias. Decisions must meet this test: would a fair-minded and informed observer, having considered the facts, conclude that there was a real possibility that the decision maker had taken into account relevant considerations, and had not taken into account irrelevant considerations? Let me set out five important issues that apply to either a committee or a planning officer. First, if the decision is delegated to a planning officer, the officer should have undertaken a site visit and it should be recorded. Secondly, all votes in the committee should be recorded, which is not the case now. When we ask our constituents, “How did your councillor vote?”, they are often unable to say. Thirdly, fees are ringfenced under clause 44, but documents should be available to members of the public. At present, people cannot see them all unless they are online; I had to look in three different places to find a highways report. There should still be a physical file that the public can consult. Fourthly, I hope that Ministers will consider term limits for the chair of planning. Finally, there is the issue of transparency, which is one of the most important elements. There should be a proper procedure so that everyone, throughout the country, follows the same procedure and it is adhered to. I remember that just before the new NPPF, there was a decision involving a takeaway. The public health representatives said that there were no comments and the highways authority representatives said that there would be no impact and then changed their minds after speaking to the applicant. It is important for decisions to be transparent. I welcome the strategic look at sites. Certain areas, such as mayoral districts with combined authorities, may be more convenient than others.
24 Mar 2025 · Planning and Infrastructure Bill · Hansard source
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I also want to raise the issue of buy to let. I hope the Deputy Prime Minister will speak to her colleagues in the Treasury about the fact that buy-to-let companies have become the largest single type of business in the UK. There are more companies set up to hold properties registered with Companies House than any other kind. Homes are for people to live in. I ask those on the Front Bench to remember Walter Segal and Moran Scott, and the Segal method house that people built for themselves in the 1970s with the Lewisham Self Build Housing Association. They were pop-up timber houses. Pockets of land were found and people were empowered. I know you are looking at me, Madam Deputy Speaker, so I will conclude. The planning system should not exclude the voices of our constituents, who will have to live with the consequences of any development. Development should be for the common good and for future generations, taking into account the climate crisis. I know that the ministerial team are up to the task.
24 Mar 2025 · Planning and Infrastructure Bill · Hansard source
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I absolutely agree; it is always “brownfield first”. I am about to say something about the green belt, but first I should make the important point that local people should not be shut out of any statutory consultation. They, and other statutory consultees, must be included in the process. Green belt should be protected, although in some cases infill on the edges of villages and other areas is acceptable. However, I must add that Walsall does not want to be joined up to Birmingham.
7 Jan 2025 · Town Centres · Hansard source
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I will call Luke Murphy to move the motion and then the Minister to respond. There will not be an opportunity for the Member in charge to wind up, as is the convention for a 30-minute debate.
7 Jan 2025 · Employer National Insurance Contributions: Charities · Hansard source
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Last but not least, I call Tom Gordon.
7 Jan 2025 · Employer National Insurance Contributions: Charities · Hansard source
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I think we can squeeze one more Back-Bench speaker in. I call Clive Jones.
7 Jan 2025 · Employer National Insurance Contributions: Charities · Hansard source
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Order. I am really sorry, but I have to stop you. Could Members bob each time, in between speeches, so that we can get a clearer idea of how many Members wish to speak?
7 Jan 2025 · Employer National Insurance Contributions: Charities · Hansard source
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Hon. Members can see the time now and we have to take wind-ups from about 5.8 pm. A number of people have put their names down to speak, so could Members stand if they want to speak and then we can work out timings?
7 Jan 2025 · Employer National Insurance Contributions: Charities · Hansard source
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Order. We are expecting a vote but I will call the Opposition spokesperson, Saqib Bhatti.
7 Jan 2025 · Employer National Insurance Contributions: Charities · Hansard source
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Order. I call Patrick Hurley to speak.
7 Jan 2025 · Employer National Insurance Contributions: Charities · Hansard source
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Order. I am really sorry; we are done.
7 Jan 2025 · Employer National Insurance Contributions: Charities · Hansard source
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I am reliably informed that each person will have one minute in which to speak; I am afraid that I will have to stop people after one minute. Obviously, this is the debate of the Member in charge and therefore he could take as long as he liked; he also took quite a few interventions.
7 Jan 2025 · Employer National Insurance Contributions: Charities · Hansard source
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I thank hon. Members. Everyone who wanted to speak has done. I now call the Liberal Democrat spokesperson, Daisy Cooper.
7 Jan 2025 · Budget: Scotland · Hansard source
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Order. I remind the hon. Member for Angus and Perthshire Glens that he has spoken for 10 minutes already. If every other hon. Member takes that amount of time, we will not be able to hear from everybody.
7 Jan 2025 · Budget: Scotland · Hansard source
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I call Seamus Logan. Oh, do you not want to speak?
7 Jan 2025 · Budget: Scotland · Hansard source
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The hon. Member obviously has the title of Mr Scotland. I am afraid I will have to impose a very informal time limit of around four minutes so that everyone is able to get in.
7 Jan 2025 · Budget: Scotland · Hansard source
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I call Gregor Poynton—
7 Jan 2025 · Budget: Scotland · Hansard source
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I can get the last two speakers in if they take a minute each.
7 Jan 2025 · Budget: Scotland · Hansard source
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A number of hon. Members wish to speak, and we will have to take the wind-ups at about 3.28 pm.
7 Jan 2025 · Budget: Scotland · Hansard source
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We are going to have to go down to an informal three-minute limit to get everyone in.

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