Valerie Vaz MP: written questions
65 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Free Schools: WalsallDepartment for EducationTabled 15 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99793More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the £50m funding for the Swift Academy in Walsall, which other bodies applied for that funding.
Answer: On 15 December 2025, a Written Ministerial Statement was laid setting out outcomes of the mainstream free school pipeline review.All free school projects in scope were evaluated in line with consistent criteria, focusing on assessing the local need for pl...
Answered 6 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordFree Schools: WalsallDepartment for EducationTabled 15 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99792More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the allocation of funding for the Swift Academy in Walsall, which body will be (a) allocated and (b) accountable for that funding.
Answer: On 15 December 2025, a Written Ministerial Statement was laid setting out outcomes of the mainstream free school pipeline review.All free school projects in scope were evaluated in line with consistent criteria, focusing on assessing the local need for pl...
Answered 6 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordFree Schools: WalsallDepartment for EducationTabled 15 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99791More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, on what evidential basis she decided to proceed with funding the Swift Academy in Walsall and Bloxwich constituency.
Answer: On 15 December 2025, a Written Ministerial Statement was laid setting out outcomes of the mainstream free school pipeline review.All free school projects in scope were evaluated in line with consistent criteria, focusing on assessing the local need for pl...
Answered 6 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordFree SchoolsDepartment for EducationTabled 15 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99790More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what criteria she used to determine which free schools should (a) be proceeded with and (b) not be proceeded with.
Answer: On 15 December 2025, a Written Ministerial Statement was laid setting out outcomes of the mainstream free school pipeline review.All free school projects in scope were evaluated in line with consistent criteria, focusing on assessing the local need for pl...
Answered 6 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordNHS: Public ExpenditureDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 18 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 91942More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of allowing an NHS body to roll over to the next financial year any unspent budget to avoid incentivising unnecessary expenditure within that f
Answer: NHS England publishes guidance setting out the revenue finance and contracting framework for National Health Service organisations. The guidance for 2026/27 onwards has recently been published to support the Medium Term Planning Framework, and is availabl...
Answered 24 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordOak National AcademyDepartment for EducationTabled 18 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 91941More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the impact on UK publishers' exports of free access in overseas markets to UK government funded educational resources from Oak National Academy.
Answer: The department is keeping the geo-restriction of Oak National Academy’s (Oak) resources under review. Oak does not promote or market its resources overseas.The department recently completed a new market impact assessment of Oak, which was published in Sep...
Answered 24 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordOak National AcademyDepartment for EducationTabled 18 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 91940More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the impact on UK publishers exports of free access in overseas markets to UK government funded educational resources from Oak National Academy.
Answer: The department is keeping the geo-restriction of Oak National Academy’s (Oak) resources under review. Oak does not promote or market its resources overseas.The department recently completed a new market impact assessment of Oak, which was published in Sep...
Answered 24 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordOak National AcademyDepartment for EducationTabled 18 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 91939More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans her Department has to limit access to Oak National Academy's government funded resources to the UK with the use of geo-blocking.
Answer: The department is keeping the geo-restriction of Oak National Academy’s (Oak) resources under review. Oak does not promote or market its resources overseas.The department recently completed a new market impact assessment of Oak, which was published in Sep...
Answered 24 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Education: Written QuestionsDepartment for EducationTabled 15 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82307More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she plans to respond to Question 76247, due for answer on 15 September 2025.
Answer: The response to Written Parliamentary Question 76247 was published on 16 October 2025.
Answered 4 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordFree SchoolsDepartment for EducationTabled 10 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 76247More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what her policy is on free schools.
Answer: High and rising standards are at the heart of this government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and ensure every child has access to the best life chances whichever type of school they are in, including free schools.
Answered 16 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordFurniture: Fire PreventionDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 10 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 76246More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department plans to update the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire Safety) Regulations 1988 to (a) remove chemical flame retardants, (b) provide additional support to furniture manufacturers, (
Answer: The policy paper ‘The fire safety of domestic upholstered furniture’, published on 22 January, set out that the Government is committed to delivering reforms to the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 that maintain a high level of f...
Answered 15 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordArts: PublishingDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 10 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 66536More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, for what reason the Creative Industries Sector Plan does not include the publishing sector; and if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of updating that plan to include that sector
Answer: The Creative Industries Sector Plan is a growth plan for all creative sectors, including publishing. It recognises the vital role of publishing in the creative ecosystem, and provides substantial support for all creative businesses, including publishers, ...
Answered 15 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordArmy: RecruitmentMinistry of DefenceTabled 8 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65751More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether it his policy that people with tattoos are able to join the Army.
Answer: Individuals with tattoos are able to join the Army, subject to some restrictions. There have been some recent changes made to the Army’s visible tattoo policy following a review this year. I can confirm that, moving forwards, only tattoos on the face and ...
Answered 11 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordDNACPR DecisionsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 8 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65750More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether physician (a) associates and (b) assistants are permitted to (i) discuss (A) Do Not Resuscitate and (B) Respect forms with patients at (1) NHS trusts and (2) GP surgeries and (ii) initiate
Answer: We want a society where every person receives high-quality, compassionate care from diagnosis through to the end of life. With regard to palliative care and end of life care, this must include the opportunity for individuals to discuss their wishes and pr...
Answered 15 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordTerminally 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 record
Published records only — not a full account of an MP’s work. How we work →