Elections for Positions in the House

Debate between Valerie Vaz and John Bercow

Thursday 26th March 2015 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I thank him for that. We will hope to secure an improvement in the next Parliament.

[Valerie Vaz (Walsall South) (Lab)]

On a point of order, Mr Speaker. This is in fact further to the point of order raised by the hon. Member for Bristol North West (Charlotte Leslie). Could we have your guidance on whether or not a referral relates to a letter that has gone to the Standards Committee or a letter to you? Should the hon. Lady not have given us a courtesy when she released informal notes of conversations in meetings of a Select Committee to the media and in Prime Minister’s questions?

[Mr Speaker]

I am genuinely grateful to the hon. Lady for her point of order. She is, of course, a member of the Committee in question and therefore has a very direct interest. I hope she will not take it amiss if I say that I think my fairly comprehensive response to the point of order from the hon. Member for Bristol North West (Charlotte Leslie) treated of those matters. I acknowledged the veracity of what she had said, but I also made the point about courtesies and confidentiality and, by implication, the inappropriateness of breaching such conventions. I hope colleagues will feel that there is nothing that now needs usefully to be added.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Valerie Vaz and John Bercow

Wednesday 18th March 2015 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I think that proposition is widely endorsed throughout the House.

[Valerie Vaz (Walsall South) (Lab)]

Could the Secretary of State go further and make it a condition of aid that those countries eliminate these appalling practices?

Petitions

Debate between Valerie Vaz and John Bercow

Wednesday 2nd July 2014 Commons Chamber

[Valerie Vaz (Walsall South) (Lab)]

The petition is from the residents of Beacon Heights park homes. A petition in similar terms has been signed by 65 people.

The petition states:

The Petition of a resident of Beacon Heights Park Homes Park,

Declares that following the removal of the 934 and 936 bus services from Beacon Road, Walsall after 7pm and on Sundays many elderly people who do not drive cannot access public transport at those times and further that the Petitioner calls for a bus service or minibus to be introduced to replace the 934 and 936 bus service.

The Petitioner therefore requests that the House of Commons urges the Government to take all possible steps to encourage Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council to consider the objections of the local residents.

And the Petitioners remain, etc.

[P001363]

[Mr Speaker]

It is a splendid thing when somebody who introduces a petition has a brother behind her in support.

Bus Services for Beacon Heights (Walsall)

Debate between Valerie Vaz and John Bercow

Wednesday 2nd July 2014 Commons Chamber

Valerie Vaz (Walsall South) (Lab)

- Hansard -

The petition is from the residents of Beacon Heights park homes. A petition in similar terms has been signed by 65 people.

The petition states:

The Petition of a resident of Beacon Heights Park Homes Park,

Declares that following the removal of the 934 and 936 bus services from Beacon Road, Walsall after 7pm and on Sundays many elderly people who do not drive cannot access public transport at those times and further that the Petitioner calls for a bus service or minibus to be introduced to replace the 934 and 936 bus service.

The Petitioner therefore requests that the House of Commons urges the Government to take all possible steps to encourage Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council to consider the objections of the local residents.

And the Petitioners remain, etc.

[P001363]

Mr Speaker

- Hansard - - Excerpts

It is a splendid thing when somebody who introduces a petition has a brother behind her in support.

Tobacco Products (Standardised Packaging)

Debate between Valerie Vaz and John Bercow

Thursday 3rd April 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I do not wish to be unkind to the House, but so far it is not obvious to me that we have had questions; we have had what might be described as lengthy volleys of words, which are not quite the same thing. If we can have short questions and short answers, we might have a reasonable chance of making effective progress towards subsequent business. Let us be led in that important mission by Valerie Vaz.

[Valerie Vaz (Walsall South) (Lab)]

I obviously welcome the Minister’s statement, but given the evidence from Sir Cyril, from Australia and Canada and from the Health Committee, will she update the House on a possible time frame? “Before 2015” is too vague.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Valerie Vaz and John Bercow

Tuesday 21st January 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Last but not least, I call Valerie Vaz.

[Valerie Vaz (Walsall South) (Lab)]

May I ask the Minister on his next visit to Burma to raise the letter that Mr Speaker has written to Minister Soe Thein with a list of political prisoners and to ask for their unconditional release?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Valerie Vaz and John Bercow

Tuesday 7th January 2014 Commons Chamber

[Keith Vaz (Leicester East) (Lab)]

rose—

[Mr Speaker]

Ah! The vying Vazs. What a delicious choice. I call Valerie Vaz.

[Valerie Vaz]

Thank you, Mr Speaker and happy new year. Does the Attorney-General agree that, at the end of the day, it is for the judges who hear the evidence in a case to decide what the sentence should be?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Valerie Vaz and John Bercow

Tuesday 19th November 2013 Commons Chamber

[Valerie Vaz (Walsall South) (Lab)]

rose—

[Mr Speaker]

It looks as though I have to arbitrate the sibling rivalry. On this occasion, it will be little brother. I call Mr Keith Vaz.

Points of Order

Debate between Valerie Vaz and John Bercow

Thursday 20th June 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I am not sure that any detriment is set to be suffered by the House, but I come to this matter slightly unsighted. The brow of the Leader of the House is furrowed, which suggests that he is as perplexed by the hon. Gentleman’s point of order as I am. It might be that there is a point of immense sophistication wrapped up in the enigma of the hon. Gentleman’s point of order, but thus far it has escaped me. We will leave it there for the time being. If there are no further points of order, either genuine or bogus, we can now move on—

[Valerie Vaz (Walsall South) (Lab)]

On a point of order, Mr Speaker. I would like to seek your guidance on a letter that the Leader of the House sent to me last night in relation to an answer that he gave me in the House last week. I would like to bring it to the attention of the House, and perhaps I could have your guidance on this. I forwarded a copy of the letter to you this morning. It was about a response to a question on legal aid.

[Mr Speaker]

I am bound to say that that does not sound like a point of order. [Interruption.] The Leader of the House will probably know the contents of the letter of which I have not yet had sight. It may have been sent to me, but I have not yet seen it.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Valerie Vaz and John Bercow

Wednesday 13th June 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. It is very unfair on the Minister that he is not being heard. He should be heard, as should all Members.

[Valerie Vaz (Walsall South) (Lab)]

T4. The Government have sold off 250 freeholds of the nation’s buildings and land. If they are going to continue to do that, will the Minister ensure that there is a covenant in the conveyancing to ensure that the public have access to public land?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Valerie Vaz and John Bercow

Tuesday 12th June 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

On both the Front Benches and the Back Benches in all parts of the House, I suspect.

[Valerie Vaz (Walsall South) (Lab)]

How do the Government intend to ring-fence the public health money that will be given to local authorities?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Valerie Vaz and John Bercow

Thursday 24th May 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

We are obliged to the Minister.

[Valerie Vaz (Walsall South) (Lab)]

I am sorry to introduce a note of caution into this backslapping, but given that women make up only 12.5% of FTSE 100 boards, what steps is the Minister taking to get more women business mentors?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Valerie Vaz and John Bercow

Tuesday 27th March 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

The Minister’s power to anticipate what will be said to him is extremely impressive, and I congratulate him immensely warmly.

[Valerie Vaz (Walsall South) (Lab)]

One year on, are the pledges under the responsibility deal working?

Petition

Debate between Valerie Vaz and John Bercow

Thursday 9th December 2010 Commons Chamber

Valerie Vaz (Walsall South) (Lab)

- Hansard -

rose—[Interruption.]

Mr Speaker

- Hansard - - Excerpts

Order. Before the hon. Lady presents her petition, as usual in these circumstances I appeal to hon. and right hon. Members who are leaving the Chamber to do so quickly and quietly, affording the same courtesy to the hon. Lady that they would wish to be extended to themselves in her situation.

Valerie Vaz

- Hansard -

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

The petition is from the users of bus service 639, Walsall to Wednesbury. The petitioners are concerned about the way the 639 bus has been taken out of service from the Kings Hill area, Walsall. They believe that this action was taken without consulting the people who live in the Kings Hill area. They have noted that the reason given was lack of use. The petitioners believe that this was not the case, and that it was due to the failings of West Midlands Travel (Walsall), as the bus often did not turn up and was mostly late when it did. They are concerned that there is now not a service to the Manor hospital. They therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to call on National Express West Midlands and Centro to take all possible steps to put this problem right and ensure that the 639 bus service is reinstated. There are 119 signatories to the petition in similar terms.

The petition states:

The Petition of users of Bus Service 639, Walsall to Wednesbury,

Declares that the Petitioners are concerned at the way the 639 bus has been taken out of service from the Kings Hill area; notes that the Petitioners believe that this action was taken without consultation of the people who live in the Kings Hill area; notes that the reason given was lack of use, but that the Petitioners believe this was not the case and that it was lack and incompetence of West Midlands Travel (Walsall), as the bus often did not turn up and was mostly late when it did; further notes that there is not now a service to the Manor Hospital.

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to call on National Express West Midlands and Centro to take all possible steps to put this problem right and ensure that the 639 bus service is reinstated.

And the Petitioners remain, etc.

[P000870]

Bus Service (Walsall)

Debate between Valerie Vaz and John Bercow

Thursday 9th December 2010 Commons Chamber

[Valerie Vaz (Walsall South) (Lab)]

rose—[Interruption.]

[Mr Speaker]

Order. Before the hon. Lady presents her petition, as usual in these circumstances I appeal to hon. and right hon. Members who are leaving the Chamber to do so quickly and quietly, affording the same courtesy to the hon. Lady that they would wish to be extended to themselves in her situation.

[Valerie Vaz]

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

The petition is from the users of bus service 639, Walsall to Wednesbury. The petitioners are concerned about the way the 639 bus has been taken out of service from the Kings Hill area, Walsall. They believe that this action was taken without consulting the people who live in the Kings Hill area. They have noted that the reason given was lack of use. The petitioners believe that this was not the case, and that it was due to the failings of West Midlands Travel (Walsall), as the bus often did not turn up and was mostly late when it did. They are concerned that there is now not a service to the Manor hospital. They therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to call on National Express West Midlands and Centro to take all possible steps to put this problem right and ensure that the 639 bus service is reinstated. There are 119 signatories to the petition in similar terms.

The petition states:

The Petition of users of Bus Service 639, Walsall to Wednesbury,

Declares that the Petitioners are concerned at the way the 639 bus has been taken out of service from the Kings Hill area; notes that the Petitioners believe that this action was taken without consultation of the people who live in the Kings Hill area; notes that the reason given was lack of use, but that the Petitioners believe this was not the case and that it was lack and incompetence of West Midlands Travel (Walsall), as the bus often did not turn up and was mostly late when it did; further notes that there is not now a service to the Manor Hospital.

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to call on National Express West Midlands and Centro to take all possible steps to put this problem right and ensure that the 639 bus service is reinstated.

And the Petitioners remain, etc.

[P000870]

Point of Order

Debate between Valerie Vaz and John Bercow

Wednesday 3rd November 2010 Commons Chamber

[Valerie Vaz (Walsall South) (Lab)]

On a point of order, Mr Speaker. On 15 September I raised with the Prime Minister the case of Sakineh Ashtiani. Reports suggest that she will be executed today. Almost 190 Members across parties have signed a letter to the President of Iran asking for her to be saved. Are you aware of an urgent statement by the Prime Minister in respect of discussions with the President to stop that barbaric execution?

[Mr Speaker]

I am grateful to the hon. Lady for her point of order. The short answer is no, I am not aware of any intention on the part of either the Prime Minister or the Foreign Secretary to make a statement on that matter. I appreciate the urgency of the situation that the hon. Lady has described, but my hands are tied. I say to her that she should as a matter of urgency, that is immediately after these exchanges, consult the Table Office about other opportunities to raise the matter sooner rather than later. If it can further help, although I appreciate that it may be too late—I hope not—she should look to Foreign and Commonwealth Office questions next Tuesday, when she might seek to catch my eye.

If there are no further points of order, we come to the ten-minute rule motion, for which the hon. Member for Walthamstow (Stella Creasy) has been waiting patiently.