Keith Vaz Portrait

Keith Vaz

Labour - Former Member for Leicester East

First elected: 11th June 1987

Left House: 6th November 2019 (Standing Down)


International Trade Committee
11th Sep 2017 - 4th Dec 2017
Justice Committee
31st Oct 2016 - 3rd May 2017
Administration Committee
20th Jul 2015 - 3rd May 2017
National Security Strategy (Joint Committee)
30th Nov 2015 - 28th Nov 2016
Liaison Committee (Commons)
10th Sep 2015 - 13th Sep 2016
Home Affairs Committee
18th Jun 2015 - 13th Sep 2016
Home Affairs Committee
25th Jul 2007 - 30th Mar 2015
Administration Committee
29th Oct 2012 - 30th Mar 2015
National Security Strategy (Joint Committee)
30th Nov 2010 - 30th Mar 2015
Home Affairs Committee
26th Jul 2007 - 30th Mar 2015
Liaison Committee (Commons)
26th Jul 2007 - 30th Mar 2015
Member, Labour Party National Executive Committee
1st Jul 2007 - 6th May 2010
National Security Strategy (Joint Committee)
13th Jan 2010 - 6th May 2010
Minister of State (Foreign and Commonwealth Office)
11th Oct 1999 - 7th Jun 2001
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Lord Chancellor's Department)
17th May 1999 - 28th Jul 1999
Shadow Spokesperson (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
1st Jun 1992 - 1st Jun 1997
Home Affairs Committee
17th Jun 1987 - 26th Oct 1992


Division Voting information

Keith Vaz has voted in 1503 divisions, and 49 times against the majority of their Party.

8 Feb 2017 - Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) between the EU and Canada - View Vote Context
Keith Vaz voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 68 Labour No votes vs 85 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 409 Noes - 126
6 Feb 2017 - European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill - View Vote Context
Keith Vaz voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 2 Labour Aye votes vs 3 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 62 Noes - 333
18 Jul 2016 - UK's Nuclear Deterrent - View Vote Context
Keith Vaz voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 48 Labour No votes vs 140 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 472 Noes - 117
20 Apr 2016 - Record Copies of Acts - View Vote Context
Keith Vaz voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 23 Labour Aye votes vs 23 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 117 Noes - 38
9 Mar 2016 - EU Measures to Combat Terrorism - View Vote Context
Keith Vaz voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 3 Labour Aye votes vs 169 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 302 Noes - 217
29 Feb 2016 - Referendums - View Vote Context
Keith Vaz voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 6 Labour No votes vs 184 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 475 Noes - 59
2 Dec 2015 - ISIL in Syria - View Vote Context
Keith Vaz voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 65 Labour Aye votes vs 153 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 397 Noes - 223
7 Sep 2015 - European Union Referendum Bill - View Vote Context
Keith Vaz voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 5 Labour Aye votes vs 204 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 80 Noes - 516
18 Jun 2015 - European Union Referendum Bill - View Vote Context
Keith Vaz voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 10 Labour Aye votes vs 195 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 71 Noes - 514
30 Jan 2014 - Immigration Bill - View Vote Context
Keith Vaz voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 10 Labour Aye votes vs 185 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 97 Noes - 241
8 Nov 2013 - European Union (Referendum) Bill - View Vote Context
Keith Vaz voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 4 Labour Aye votes vs 32 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 293 Noes - 32
15 Jul 2013 - 2014 JHA Opt-out Decision - View Vote Context
Keith Vaz voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 1 Labour Aye votes vs 231 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 341 Noes - 244
11 Jul 2012 - Sittings of the House - View Vote Context
Keith Vaz voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 69 Labour Aye votes vs 138 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 241 Noes - 256
11 Jul 2012 - Sittings of the House - View Vote Context
Keith Vaz voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 66 Labour No votes vs 139 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 267 Noes - 233
11 Jul 2012 - Sittings of the House - View Vote Context
Keith Vaz voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 51 Labour No votes vs 141 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 280 Noes - 184
7 Sep 2011 - Health and Social Care (Re-committed) Bill - View Vote Context
Keith Vaz voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 11 Labour Aye votes vs 208 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 118 Noes - 368
13 Jul 2011 - Offshore Gambling and the Horseracing Levy - View Vote Context
Keith Vaz voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 2 Labour Aye votes vs 214 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 316 Noes - 233
13 Jul 2011 - Offshore Gambling and the Horseracing Levy - View Vote Context
Keith Vaz voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 2 Labour Aye votes vs 213 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 316 Noes - 230
9 Feb 2011 - Domestic Heating Oil - View Vote Context
Keith Vaz voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 9 Labour No votes vs 184 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 501 Noes - 18
15 Jul 2009 - US-UK Extradition Treaty - View Vote Context
Keith Vaz voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 10 Labour Aye votes vs 280 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 236 Noes - 290
14 Jul 2009 - Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Keith Vaz voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 6 Labour Aye votes vs 263 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 189 Noes - 270
19 May 2009 - Policing and Crime Bill - View Vote Context
Keith Vaz voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 7 Labour Aye votes vs 274 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 71 Noes - 284
29 Apr 2009 - Gurkha Settlement Rights - View Vote Context
Keith Vaz voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 28 Labour Aye votes vs 238 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 267 Noes - 246
8 Dec 2008 - Speaker’s Committee on the Search of Offices on the Parliamentary Estate - View Vote Context
Keith Vaz voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 30 Labour Aye votes vs 274 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 281 Noes - 285
19 Nov 2008 - Counter-Terrorism Bill - View Vote Context
Keith Vaz voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 4 Labour Aye votes vs 271 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 154 Noes - 329
19 Nov 2008 - Counter-Terrorism Bill - View Vote Context
Keith Vaz voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 2 Labour No votes vs 270 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 277 Noes - 209
17 Jul 2008 - Reform of Intelligence and Security Committee - View Vote Context
Keith Vaz voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 17 Labour Aye votes vs 198 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 32 Noes - 205
3 Jul 2008 - Members’ Salaries - View Vote Context
Keith Vaz voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 82 Labour Aye votes vs 136 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 155 Noes - 196
3 Jul 2008 - Members’ Salaries - View Vote Context
Keith Vaz voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 66 Labour Aye votes vs 159 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 141 Noes - 216
3 Jul 2008 - Members’ Salaries - View Vote Context
Keith Vaz voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 62 Labour Aye votes vs 152 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 123 Noes - 224
20 May 2008 - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Keith Vaz voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 47 Labour Aye votes vs 226 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 217 Noes - 292
20 May 2008 - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Keith Vaz voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 48 Labour Aye votes vs 227 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 222 Noes - 290
20 May 2008 - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Keith Vaz voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 14 Labour Aye votes vs 255 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 71 Noes - 393
20 May 2008 - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Keith Vaz voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 16 Labour Aye votes vs 251 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 84 Noes - 387
20 May 2008 - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Keith Vaz voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 39 Labour Aye votes vs 240 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 190 Noes - 332
20 May 2008 - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Keith Vaz voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 56 Labour Aye votes vs 231 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 233 Noes - 304
19 May 2008 - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Keith Vaz voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 61 Labour Aye votes vs 215 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 176 Noes - 336
19 May 2008 - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Keith Vaz voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 62 Labour Aye votes vs 216 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 223 Noes - 286
19 May 2008 - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Keith Vaz voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 58 Labour Aye votes vs 217 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 181 Noes - 314
6 May 2008 - Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill - View Vote Context
Keith Vaz voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 7 Labour No votes vs 261 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 271 Noes - 215
9 Jan 2008 - Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill - View Vote Context
Keith Vaz voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 35 Labour No votes vs 256 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 481 Noes - 46
28 Mar 2007 - Ambulance Coverage (Forest of Dean) - View Vote Context
Keith Vaz voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 3 Labour No votes vs 229 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 342 Noes - 49
28 Mar 2007 - Ambulance Coverage (Forest of Dean) - View Vote Context
Keith Vaz voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 5 Labour No votes vs 228 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 366 Noes - 54
7 Mar 2007 - House of Lords Reform - View Vote Context
Keith Vaz voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 152 Labour No votes vs 162 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 416 Noes - 163
7 Mar 2007 - House of Lords Reform - View Vote Context
Keith Vaz voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 126 Labour Aye votes vs 184 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 155 Noes - 418
7 Mar 2007 - House of Lords Reform - View Vote Context
Keith Vaz voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 132 Labour Aye votes vs 177 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 178 Noes - 392
7 Mar 2007 - House of Lords Reform - View Vote Context
Keith Vaz voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 156 Labour Aye votes vs 157 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 305 Noes - 267
28 Feb 2007 - Offender Management Bill - View Vote Context
Keith Vaz voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 49 Labour Aye votes vs 256 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 111 Noes - 267
24 Oct 2006 - Police and Justice Bill - View Vote Context
Keith Vaz voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 15 Labour No votes vs 304 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 313 Noes - 272
View All Keith Vaz Division Votes

All Debates

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Department Debates
Home Office
(640 debate contributions)
Ministry of Justice
(256 debate contributions)
Cabinet Office
(155 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
View all Keith Vaz's debates

Latest EDMs signed by Keith Vaz

28th October 2019
Keith Vaz signed this EDM as a sponsor on Friday 25th October 2019

Racist abuse on social media against Hamza Choudhry

Tabled by: Keith Vaz (Labour - Leicester East)
That this House condemns the online abuse on social media directed at Leicester City Football Club’s midfielder Hamza Choudhry during the Premier League match against Liverpool FC on 5th October 2019; expresses its solidarity with Mr Choudhry and applauds the decision of Liverpool FC’s management to report the shocking posts …
12 signatures
(Most recent: 16 Dec 2019)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 6
Conservative: 2
Democratic Unionist Party: 1
Green Party: 1
Scottish National Party: 1
Independent: 1
21st October 2019
Keith Vaz signed this EDM on Thursday 24th October 2019

Racism in football

Tabled by: Catherine West (Labour - Hornsey and Friern Barnet)
That this House condemns the appalling racism at the Haringey Borough v. Yeovil Town FA Cup game on 19 October; applauds the Haringey players and management for their brave and principled decision to walk off in the face of such abuse; calls on the Football Association to ensure that those …
59 signatures
(Most recent: 16 Dec 2019)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 33
Conservative: 6
Independent: 6
Liberal Democrat: 5
Scottish National Party: 4
Democratic Unionist Party: 3
Plaid Cymru: 1
Green Party: 1
The Independent Group for Change: 1
View All Keith Vaz's signed Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Keith Vaz, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.

MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.


7 Urgent Questions tabled by Keith Vaz

Monday 11th June 2018
Monday 12th December 2016
Monday 9th November 2015
Tuesday 3rd March 2015
Thursday 12th July 2012
Monday 30th April 2012

12 Adjournment Debates led by Keith Vaz

Thursday 28th February 2019
Monday 3rd July 2017
Tuesday 18th October 2016
Thursday 3rd March 2016
Thursday 8th May 2014
Monday 24th June 2013
Friday 23rd March 2012
Tuesday 8th November 2011
Friday 1st April 2011
Wednesday 8th September 2010

9 Bills introduced by Keith Vaz


The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress. A Bill to increase the minimum custodial sentence on conviction for possession of a knife or other offensive weapon for an offender aged 18 years or over and to increase the minimum period of detention and training order for a person aged 16 or 17; to set a minimum custodial sentence on conviction for an offender in possession of a knife or other weapon and intending to commit any offence or having such a weapon available to use in committing murder; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Thursday 7th June 2018

A Bill to require the Secretary of State to ensure that all diabetic patients are identified on admittance to hospital and have their diabetes condition monitored while in hospital by a specialist diabetes team; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Thursday 15th December 2016
(Read Debate)

A Bill to require those responsible for the selection and interviewing of candidates for, and appointment to, the posts of Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, the President of the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court of England and Wales, the Keeper or Master of the Rolls and Records of the Chancery of England and the President of the Family Division of the High Court of England and Wales to disregard the age of applicants under 70 years of age; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Thursday 2nd March 2017
(Read Debate)

A Bill to increase the minimum custodial sentence on conviction for possession of a knife or other offensive weapon for an offender aged 18 years or over and to increase the minimum period of a detention and training order for a person aged 16 or 17; to set a minimum custodial sentence on conviction for an offender in possession of a knife or other weapon and intending to commit any offence or having such a weapon available to use in committing murder; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Wednesday 22nd March 2017
(Read Debate)

A Bill to provide that payment of the recoverable amount determined in a confiscation order by a court must be included as a component of a custodial sentence; to provide that non-payment of the recoverable amount be a criminal offence; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Thursday 19th March 2015

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Wednesday 11th March 2015

The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Wednesday 14th May 2014

The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress. A Bill to establish a programme of research into diabetes prevention; to require manufacturers of soft drinks to reduce the sugar content of soft drinks by 4 per cent; to make provision for a mechanism through which manufacturers of soft drinks are required through reinvestment of part of their profits to support the research programme from 2012; and for connected purposes

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Wednesday 18th April 2012

The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress. At present, the Crown passes to male heirs ahead of female heirs. The Bill would amend the Act of Settlement 1700 to remove any distinction between the sexes in determining succession to the Crown.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Tuesday 18th January 2011

1 Bill co-sponsored by Keith Vaz

Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act 2018
Sponsor - Steve Reed (LAB)


Latest 50 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
5 Other Department Questions
27th Feb 2019
To ask the right hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington, representing the House of Commons Commission, what estimate the Commission has made of the cost to the House of the recent installation of new phone systems in the House of Commons.

Parliament’s telephone system was installed in 1985 and – like much of the Palace of Westminster’s core infrastructure – is at the end of its supported life; at significant risk of failure; and growing increasingly difficult to support. Replacement parts for the system are no longer made and the organisation has been buying second hand parts for the last ten years. There are no longer providers in the market place that support the corresponding software. If our legacy system were to fail we could not reliably restore the service.

Given this situation, a project was initiated in 2014 to examine the options to replace our legacy telephone system, whilst also meeting the needs of Parliament’s mobile workforce and the impending estates challenges associated with the restoration and renewal of the Palace of Westminster. That project identified Skype for Business as the most suitable solution to meet these needs.

The total implementation cost for rolling out the system across Parliament (House of Commons and House of Lords Members and the Administrations) to February 2019 is £3.9 million (revenue) and £1.4 million (capital). It is forecast to spend in total £5.5 million (revenue) and £1.5 million (capital). The total revenue cost per user is £611 and the total capital cost is £166 per user. The cost is shared between the House of Commons and the House of Lords on a 70%:30% ratio.

18th Oct 2017
To ask the right hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many vending machines there are on the parliamentary estate; and what proportion of the items in those machines have (a) low or no and (b) high sugar content.

The House of Commons has ten vending machines provided by an external contractor:

  • 4 hot beverage machines

  • 6 chilled snack and cold beverage machines

In the majority of the chilled snack and cold beverage machines, out of 16 drinks items approximately 80% are lower sugar items; and out of 22 snack items approximately 50% are lower sugar items. It is more difficult to quantify for the products in the hot beverage machines, because the raw coffee or tea product can be turned into multiple finished products and purchasers can add sugar. However, based on the raw product alone, the hot beverage machines have a minimum of 66% low or no sugar products.

7th Oct 2016
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what assessment her Department has made of how transparently (a) insurance companies and (b) other providers of a public good (i) formulate the price of their products and (ii) ensure any pricing structure is not affected by the consumer's ethnicity.

The Equality Act 2010 legally protects people from discrimination in the workplace and in wider society and sets out the different ways in which it is unlawful to treat someone. There are specific exceptions for providers of financial services such as insurance companies, which allow them to use a person’s age as a factor in assessing risk and charging for their products. However, insurers are not able to use a person’s race as a factor in assessing risk and charging for their products.

The pricing of risk is a commercial decision for individual insurers, and differences in premiums reflect different insurers’ experience of claims and other industry-wide statistics. While insurers are not required by the Financial Conduct Authority to be transparent about pricing decisions, it expects firms to comply with relevant legislation, including the Equality Act 2010, and can undertake its own enquiries to better understand what the firm is doing and whether any of its regulatory requirements have been breached.

7th Oct 2016
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, with reference to the report entitled Ethnic Penalties in Motor Insurance Premiums by Webber Phillips, published in July 2016, what assessment her Department has made of concerns raised in that report that some car owners may be being charged higher premiums due to their ethnicity.

The Equality Act 2010 legally protects people from discrimination in the workplace and in wider society and sets out the different ways in which it is unlawful to treat someone. There are specific exceptions for providers of financial services such as insurance companies, which allow them to use a person’s age as a factor in assessing risk and charging for their products. However, insurers are not able to use a person’s race as a factor in assessing risk and charging for their products.

The pricing of risk is a commercial decision for individual insurers, and differences in premiums reflect different insurers’ experience of claims and other industry-wide statistics. While insurers are not required by the Financial Conduct Authority to be transparent about pricing decisions, it expects firms to comply with relevant legislation, including the Equality Act 2010, and can undertake its own enquiries to better understand what the firm is doing and whether any of its regulatory requirements have been breached.

13th Oct 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many overseas students were studying at each UK university in (a) 2013 and (b) 2014.

The Higher Education Statistics Agency collects and publishes data on student enrolments at UK Higher Education Institutions. Statistics on enrolments by country of domicile, mode of study, level of study and institution can be accessed via the following link for the latest available academic years, which are 2011/12 and 2012/13.

https://www.hesa.ac.uk/content/view/1973/239/

Information on enrolments at UK Higher Education Institutions in the academic year 2013/14 will become available from Higher Education Statistics Agency in January 2015.

10th Dec 2018
To ask the Attorney General, whether a suicide note is classified as a legal document.

The Attorney General’s Office is not responsible for determining the legal status of any document. The legal status of a document would depend on a number of factors including the context it was being presented in.

12th Jan 2017
To ask the Attorney General, what the cost to his Department was of the use of external lawyers by his Department (a) in general and (b) related to the work of the Treasury Solicitors in (i) 2016, (ii) 2015 and (iii) 2014.

The cost relating to the use of external lawyers (including lawyers in the Government Legal Department, formerly the Treasury Solicitor’s Department) by the Attorney General’s Office for the last three financial years is in the table below:

£

2013-14

2014-15

2015-16

Cost of GLD lawyers

425,859

330,442

322,023

Cost of GLD disbursements (Counsel)

210,537

340,640

220,182

Cost of GLD disbursements (Other external lawyers)

40,153

8,677

-

Non-GLD legal fees (Counsel)

18,816

14,252

18,949

Total external legal fees

695,366

694,011

561,153

All figures are exclusive of VAT.

11th Jan 2017
To ask the Attorney General, how many lawyers are employed in the Government Legal Service; and how many such lawyers are (a) women and (b) from ethnic minority communities.

The Government Legal Service (GLS) is not a department but a grouping of the legal profession within Government. Government lawyers take different forms; some are employed by the Government Legal Department (GLD), others employed by regulators and organisations at arm’s length from Government. The GLS is supported by a very small secretariat of fewer than five staff and does not systematically collect information as data is held by the lawyer’s own organisations. We are therefore unable to provide this information for the GLS. There is data for the GLD, which is the single largest ‘member’ of the GLS and the largest provider of legal services to government. As of 31 December 2016 the figures for the Government Legal Department are as follows:

Number of lawyers

1,400

Number of female lawyers

896

Number of lawyers from ethnic minority communities *

187

Number of female lawyers from ethnic minority communities *

132

*This figure is obtained from the information that is voluntarily self-recorded by employees

21st Jul 2014
To ask the Attorney General, pursuant to the Answer of 8 July 2014, Official Report, column 184W, on consultants, who the consultants were; what they were contracted to do; and how much each was paid.

The information requested in respect of the Crown Prosecution Service was contained in an answer given to the Rt. Hon Member by the Attorney General on the 16th July (Official Report, Col 678W).

The table below contains details on the consultants used by the SFO since 2010-11.

Year

Contractor

Work type

Amount (£)

2010-11

PA Consultancy

Support work for senior management

986k

2010-11

Corven

Development work relating to Deferred

Prosecution Agreements; coaching

480k

2010-11

SCC

IT consultancy

60k

2010-11

DTZ

Preparation of Business case for

relocation and satellite offices

24k

2010-11

Morland Consulting

Research & Support Strategic

Risk Assessment

10k

2010-11

Processflows Ltd

IT consultancy

1k

2010-11

Ravn Systems Ltd

IT consultancy

7k

2011-12

PA Consultancy

Support work for senior

management

208k

2011-12

Corven

Consultancy work relating to

Deferred Prosecution Agreements

542k

2011-12

BNP Paribas

Lease surrender

61k

2011-12

Ravn Systems

IT consultancy

44k

2011-12

Hill and Knowlton

Communication advice

1k

2012-13

PA Consultancy

Late invoice for work in

2011-12 (as above)

31k

2013-14

SCC

IT consultancy

32k

2013-14

CIO Partners

Preparation of specialist

IT specification

2k

2013-14

Others*

Data management reviews

14k

* Two individuals carried out some work relating to an incident of data loss

Note 1: Records for this type of expenditure were not properly documented prior to April 2012. Available records are summarised above:

Note 2: The combined total of costs for the year 2010/11 does not match SFO’s previously published figures. The previous figure was understated by £10k because of credits for late invoices relating to 2009/10 which had been incorrectly categorised as consultancy expenditure.

1st Jul 2014
To ask the Attorney General, pursuant to the Answer of 16 June 2014, Official Report, column 389W, on the legal profession, what proportion of the money spent on consultancy fees by the Crown Prosecution Service was paid to which companies for what services in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012, (d) 2013 and (e) 2014 to date.

A table setting out the proportion of the money spent on consultancy fees by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) paid to companies for services in financial years from 2010/11 to 2013/14 has been placed in the Library of the House, together with the corresponding expenditure. The CPS financial reporting systems are configured to provide information based on financial rather than calendar years.

Jeremy Wright
Shadow Attorney General
9th Jun 2014
To ask the Attorney General, what the cost to the public purse was of external lawyers employed by (a) the Serious Fraud Office and (b) the Crown Prosecution Service in (i) 2010, (ii) 2011, (iii) 2012, (iv) 2013 and (v) 2014 to date.

The amounts spent by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) on external lawyers in each of the last four financial years is shown in the following table. Both organisations financial reporting systems are configured to provide information based on financial rather than calendar years.

Expenditure on external lawyers

Year

CPS

SFO

2010-11

£139,219,000

£4,523,561

2011-12

£115,329,000

£4,822,253

2012-13

£118,908,000

£5,956,633

2013-14

£122,929,000

£19,077,467

The SFO figures include the cost of external counsel, TSol and other legal fees, but do not include temporary agency staff. The SFO spend on counsel fees is published in its annual report. The increased figures for 2012-13 and 2013-14 reflect the revised treatment of VAT on some fees, repayment of some VAT which had been incorrectly recovered in earlier years, and costs relating to some very large cases and other litigation.

The SFO's requirement for additional expenditure in 2013-14 has already been set out to the House in documentation published around its Spring Supplementary Estimate, which has been scrutinised by the Justice Select Committee. The nature of the SFO's work means that it can occasionally incur significant additional legal expenses for its very largest and mostcomplex investigations and prosecutions, such as that into Libor.

The CPS figures are drawn from the CPS's core financial accounting system and they are consistent with the CPS's audited accounts. The great majority of fees for legal work paid by the CPS relates to the services of self-employed barristers and solicitors for crown court casework. The CPS also engages barristers and solicitors to undertake advocacy as agents in magistrates' courts sessions and, occasionally, to provide legal advice on discrete areas of specialist policy.

9th Jun 2014
To ask the Attorney General, how many lawyers were employed in the Treasury Solicitor's Department in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012, (d) 2013 and (e) 2014 to date.

The figures below give the number of lawyers employed in the Treasury Solicitor's Department (TSol), as at 31st March each year and to date for 2014.

Year

Full Time Equivalent

31st May 2014

910

31st March 2013

572

31st March 2012

565

31st March 2011

464

31st March 2010

451

The figures given are for permanent staff.

Since 2010 TSol has been engaged on a process of transferring lawyers from other departments to TSol as part of the the Shared Legal Services Programme. Sharing legal services brings considerable benefits including greater flexibility and resiliance, more efficient deployment of legal resources, more opportunities for savings and improved knowledge sharing, which in turn supports consistency of legal advice across Government.

27th Sep 2019
To ask the Prime Minister, what recent discussions he has had with with (a) President Trump, (b) President Rouhani and (c) his Saudi Arabian counterpart on the situation in Yemen.

In conversations about the situation in the region with my counterparts, I have reiterated the UK’s support for the UN-led political process on Yemen. On 26 September, the UK co-hosted a political event at the UN General Assembly to coordinate the international community’s support for the UN-led peace process and endorse the UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths’ plan to begin wider political discussion. We have longstanding concerns about Iranian involvement in Yemen and continue to urge Iran to be a constructive part of the solution to the conflict.


8th Jul 2019
To ask the Prime Minister, what discussions she held with Government leaders on the situation in Yemen at the G20 Summit in Japan on 28-29 June 2019.

I refer the right hon. Member to my statement on 29 June at the G20 summit, which is available at the gov.uk website https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-statement-at-the-g20-summit-29-june-2019 .

14th Jun 2019
To ask the Prime Minister, what discussions she had with President Trump on the conflict in the Yemen during her meeting with the President on 4 June 2019; and if she will make a statement.

President Trump and I agreed that there had been political progress and that it was essential to continue to work with partners in the region in order to deliver a peace deal.

9th Apr 2019
To ask the Prime Minister, what the outcomes were of her discussions with the German Chancellor on Tuesday 9th April 2019 on the situation in Yemen.

I refer the right hon. Member to the press release issued on 9 April 2019 following my meeting with Chancellor Merkel and which is available on the gov.uk website: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-meeting-with-chancellor-angela-merkel-9-april-2019

29th Jan 2019
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the average annual earnings were of the bottom five deciles in Leicester in (a) 2015, (b) 2016, (c) 2017 and (d) 2018.

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.

18th Dec 2018
To ask the Prime Minister, what assurances she sought from European leaders on continuing cooperation in matters of foreign policy at the recent European Council meeting.

I refer the Rt Hon. Gentleman to the Oral Statement I gave to the House on the 17 December 2018 on December European Council, Official Report, Column 527.

10th Dec 2018
To ask the Prime Minister, what discussions she had with her counterparts at the G20 Summit in Argentina on a ceasefire in Yemen.

I refer the Rt Hon. Gentleman to the Oral Statement I gave to the House on 3 December 2018 on the 2018 G20 Summit, Official Report, Column 531

10th Dec 2018
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the number of suicides in England and Wales in (a) 2015, (b) 2016, (c) 2017 and (d) 2018.

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.

3rd Dec 2018
To ask the Prime Minister, when she last discussed the UK leaving the EU with President Trump.

I refer the Rt Hon. Gentleman to the Oral Statement I gave to the House on 3 December 2018 on the 2018 G20 Summit, Official Report, Column 533

3rd Dec 2018
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent estimate he has made of the number of non-UK EU citizens residing in the UK.

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.

26th Jun 2018
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what proportion of the population is (a) over 65 years old and (b) is projected to be over 65 years old in 2028.

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.

7th Jun 2018
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people died as a result of knife crime in 2017.

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.

20th Feb 2018
To ask the Prime Minister, how many members of the UK delegation were of UK-Chinese origin during her recent visit to China.

A list of the UK delegation is available on the gov.uk website.

6th Oct 2017
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps the Government is taking to protect public services against cyber attacks.

The Government takes the threat of cyber attacks against public services very seriously. We support Health and Local Government sectors in improving their cyber resilience and encourage all organisations to implement the National Cyber Security Centre’s advice: to keep software patches up to date, to run antivirus and to back up their data.

In addition to this, the NCSC is developing Active Cyber Defence initiatives which will lead national efforts to block, disrupt and neutralise malicious cyber activity before it reaches our public services.

6th Oct 2017
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU on the size of the Civil Service workforce.

Workforce planning is primarily the responsibility of each department. The Civil Service
constantly reviews its capabilities in order to deliver the Government's commitment to
leave the EU and get the best deal for the UK. Civil Service HR is working with all
departments across the Civil Service to better understand their capacity and capability
requirements.

7th Sep 2017
To ask the Prime Minister, whether she has had recent discussions with the Saudi Foreign Minister on ending the blockade of Yemen.

I refer the right hon. Member to the press release issued on 4 September following my meeting with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir and which is available on the gov.uk website: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-meeting-with-saudi-foreign-minister-adel-al-jubeir-4-september-2017

10th Jul 2017
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many overseas students were in the UK on 1 June 2017; and how many such students there were by country of origin.

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.

4th Jul 2017
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many non-UK EU citizens, by country of origin are currently living in the UK.

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.

6th Feb 2017
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many British citizens live in (a) the EU and (b) each EU country other than the UK.

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.

30th Jan 2017
To ask the Prime Minister, what the total number of special advisers working at Number 10 is, by (a) gender and (b) ethnic minority background.

A list of special advisers was published on 21st December 2016, and copies have been placed in the libraries of both Houses. Information on the gender and ethnicity of special advisers is not routinely collected.

30th Jan 2017
To ask the Prime Minister, when she last held discussions with President Putin.

I held a bilateral meeting with President Putin in the margins of the G20 Summit in September. Discussions covered Syria and our bilateral relationship.

30th Jan 2017
To ask the Prime Minister, when she last held discussions with President Hadi of Yemen.

I have not yet held discussions with the President of Yemen though the UK engages regularly with President Hadi. Most recently, Minister Ellwood called President Hadi on 15 January.

The UK government continues to stress to all parties that a political solution is the best way to bring long-term stability to Yemen and end the conflict.

30th Jan 2017
To ask the Prime Minister, when she last met the Secretary General of the Commonwealth.

I met the Secretary General of the Commonwealth at the UN General Assembly in September 2016. The Minister for the Commonwealth, The Rt Hon. Baroness Anelay of St Johns DBE, meets regularly with the Secretary General, and did so most recently on 21 December 2016.

30th Jan 2017
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the number of EU citizens who have entered the UK since 23 June 2016.

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.

7th Dec 2016
To ask the Prime Minister, what discussions she has had with King Salman on her visit to the Gulf in December 2016 on the situation in Yemen; and if she will make a statement.

I discussed a range of issues with King Salman related to the Gulf Region. The UK Government has been clear that we want to see a durable ceasefire and the resumption of peace talks because a political solution is the best way to bring long-term stability to Yemen.

7th Oct 2016
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will extend the proposed audit of public services to reveal racial disparities to all organisations and companies which provide (a) car insurance and (b) other consumer services required by law.

All companies and other organisations that provide a service to the public are legally obliged under the Equality Act 2010 to ensure no race discrimination occurs. The Race Disparity Audit was set up to identify and analyse racial disparities in public services, working with data from Government departments and their arm’s length bodies to build a complete and accurate picture across the country. This is a unique and ambitious undertaking and there are no current plans to extend it beyond public services.

22nd Feb 2016
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what proportion of Senior Civil Service roles are occupied by people from BME backgrounds.

In 2015, the proportion of senior civil servants from black and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds was 4.1%; and the proportion of the whole civil service workforce from BAME background was 10.6% as I set out in my recent speech https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/addressing-inequality-in-the-public-sector-and-beyond-matt-hancock-speech.

While BAME representation throughout the civil service workforce is consistent with the economically active population, in order for the civil service to reflect diversity of Modern Britain we need to do more to increase BAME representation in the senior civil service. We have increased capacity of summer diversity internships and the Positive Action Pathway programme and will soon launch ‘Accelerate’ (a development programme for SCS from BAME backgrounds to reach the most senior grades within the Civil Service). We anticipate that over time these and other initiatives will result in an increase in the proportion of the SCS coming from BAME backgrounds.

The proportion of applicants and appointments from BME backgrounds to the Civil Service Fast Stream from 2012 to 2014 are listed in the table below.

Data on the 2015 cohort is due to be released later this year in the 2015 Fast Stream Annual Report.

Proportion from an ethnic minority background – Civil Service Fast Stream (all schemes)

Applicants

Appointments

2014

19.4%

14.2%

2013

18%

13.6%

2012

16.9%

12.8%

22nd Feb 2016
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what proportion of the Civil Service workforce is from BME backgrounds.

In 2015, the proportion of senior civil servants from black and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds was 4.1%; and the proportion of the whole civil service workforce from BAME background was 10.6% as I set out in my recent speech https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/addressing-inequality-in-the-public-sector-and-beyond-matt-hancock-speech.

While BAME representation throughout the civil service workforce is consistent with the economically active population, in order for the civil service to reflect diversity of Modern Britain we need to do more to increase BAME representation in the senior civil service. We have increased capacity of summer diversity internships and the Positive Action Pathway programme and will soon launch ‘Accelerate’ (a development programme for SCS from BAME backgrounds to reach the most senior grades within the Civil Service). We anticipate that over time these and other initiatives will result in an increase in the proportion of the SCS coming from BAME backgrounds.

The proportion of applicants and appointments from BME backgrounds to the Civil Service Fast Stream from 2012 to 2014 are listed in the table below.

Data on the 2015 cohort is due to be released later this year in the 2015 Fast Stream Annual Report.

Proportion from an ethnic minority background – Civil Service Fast Stream (all schemes)

Applicants

Appointments

2014

19.4%

14.2%

2013

18%

13.6%

2012

16.9%

12.8%

22nd Feb 2016
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what proportion of applicants to the Civil Service Fast Stream are (a) from BME backgrounds and (b) successful and from BME backgrounds.

In 2015, the proportion of senior civil servants from black and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds was 4.1%; and the proportion of the whole civil service workforce from BAME background was 10.6% as I set out in my recent speech https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/addressing-inequality-in-the-public-sector-and-beyond-matt-hancock-speech.

While BAME representation throughout the civil service workforce is consistent with the economically active population, in order for the civil service to reflect diversity of Modern Britain we need to do more to increase BAME representation in the senior civil service. We have increased capacity of summer diversity internships and the Positive Action Pathway programme and will soon launch ‘Accelerate’ (a development programme for SCS from BAME backgrounds to reach the most senior grades within the Civil Service). We anticipate that over time these and other initiatives will result in an increase in the proportion of the SCS coming from BAME backgrounds.

The proportion of applicants and appointments from BME backgrounds to the Civil Service Fast Stream from 2012 to 2014 are listed in the table below.

Data on the 2015 cohort is due to be released later this year in the 2015 Fast Stream Annual Report.

Proportion from an ethnic minority background – Civil Service Fast Stream (all schemes)

Applicants

Appointments

2014

19.4%

14.2%

2013

18%

13.6%

2012

16.9%

12.8%

30th Jun 2014
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to ensure gender equality in civil service salaries.

The median gender pay gap for full-time civil servants has narrowed since 2010 but we must continue to press to narrow the gap further, including by reminding departments of their clear legal obligations on equal pay and conducting equal pay audits. Salaries for new appointments must be justified on the basis of the skills and experience necessary to do the job. For staff below the Senior Civil Service (SCS), this is for individual departments to manage. For the centrally-managed SCS, pay proposals have regard to the impact on women.

More widely, the Government is concerned that a long-standing majority of women in the overall civil service, does not translate into a similar proportion in the SCS. I have commissioned work to address this issue.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many Government contracts have been given to Airwave; and what the (a) value and (b) duration is of each such contract.

Since January 2011, as part of the Government's transparency programme, details of contracts above the value of £10,000 are published on Contracts Finder at:

https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much sugar was purchased for No. 10 Downing Street in 2013.

The Prime Minister's Office is an integral part of the Cabinet Office.

This information is not held.

6th Oct 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps the Government is taking to protect the UK aerospace sector.

The Department provides strong support for the UK aerospace sector through the Aerospace Growth Partnership. We believe this has been successful in protecting the industry and supporting its growth. Since 2010, the UK aerospace industry has seen turnover grow from £23.7billion to £32billion; exports have increased from £18billion to £30billion; direct jobs have grown from 110,000 to 120,000, with indirect jobs up from 148,000 to 161,000; and, between 2010 and 2016, productivity growth in the sector was over five times more than in the economy as a whole. In addition we have created a more certain environment to drive increased investment in R&D, through a £1.95billion Government commitment over 13 years to 2026, matched by industry, to fund new R&D projects.

But we are not complacent and will continue to work with industry through the AGP to retain the UK's position as a leading aerospace nation.

6th Oct 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department has taken to support the UK space industry during the negotiations on the UK leaving the EU.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have made it clear that we want our companies and our universities to continue participating in key EU space programmes.

Furthermore my Department has shown strong support for the UK space industry through the €1.4bn investment I made with the European Space Agency in December 2016. I have also announced an investment of £99m in a National Satellite Testing Facility at Harwell.

22nd Feb 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps the Government is taking to increase representation of BME students in leading universities.

The Prime Minister has a goal of increasing by 20% the number of BME students in higher education. In our new guidance to the Director of Fair Access, which we published on 11 February, we ask him to maximise the contribution of Access Agreements towards this ambition. The share of BME enrolments at UK institutions has already risen from just over 20% to 23% between 2009/10 and 2014/15. Entry rates for 18 year olds in each ethnic group increased in 2015, reaching the highest recorded values for each group. Between 2009 and 2015, the entry rate for young people in the Black ethnic group increased by over 40 percent proportionally.

Investment by the higher education sector through Access Agreements is expected to reach £746 million in 2016/17 up from £404 million in 2009/10.

The Government accepts that selective institutions already do much to widen participation. We also acknowledge the work that they already do. Nonetheless, we are convinced that more could and should be done. In our recent guidance to the Director of Fair Access, www.offa.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/11-02-2016-OFFA-Guidance.pdf we asked him to secure more progress. Institutions must use evidence and good practice to lever better results and there needs to be more innovation in this area. As the Director of Fair has also said, ‘it should not be beyond institutions themselves to find ways of making more progress.’

23rd Oct 2019
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when the second part of the Leveson inquiry into regulation of the press will be commenced; and if she will make a statement.

The government announced in 2018 that it would not be taking forward Part 2 of the Leveson Inquiry. The Inquiry and subsequent police investigations were comprehensive. More than 300 people gave evidence to the Inquiry, and over 40 people were convicted during the three major investigations. The media landscape has changed significantly since Part 1 of the Inquiry. Reopening the Inquiry would cost millions, and we believe it is no longer appropriate, proportionate, or in the public interest to do so. There have been extensive reforms to policing practices, as well as significant changes to press self-regulation.