To match an exact phrase, use quotation marks around the search term. eg. "Parliamentary Estate". Use "OR" or "AND" as link words to form more complex queries.


Keep yourself up-to-date with the latest developments by exploring our subscription options to receive notifications direct to your inbox

Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 25 Jan 2022
Oral Answers to Questions

"I thank the Minister for his answer, but that was in November. Anoosheh Ashoori is on hunger strike and he needs diplomatic protection. He is innocent. Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, six years a hostage: innocent. Morad Tahbaz, an environmentalist: innocent. Mehran Raoof, a trade unionist: innocent. Will the Minister commit to working …..."
Valerie Vaz - View Speech

View all Valerie Vaz (Lab - Walsall and Bloxwich) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions

Written Question
Coronavirus: Vaccination
Thursday 20th January 2022

Asked by: Valerie Vaz (Labour - Walsall and Bloxwich)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what progress the Government has made on meeting its target of donating 100 million covid-19 vaccines by the end of June 2022; and when that target will be met.

Answered by Amanda Milling

The UK has been a world leader in ensuring developing countries can access vaccines, through our early support to the COVAX scheme and commitment to donate surplus vaccines. The Prime Minister has been clear that no one is safe until we are all safe.

The UK has fulfilled its pledge to donate 30 million coronavirus vaccine doses by the end of 2021, with 25.4 million of these doses already deployed to countries in need. We are managing our vaccine supply so that all vaccines are either used as quickly as possible in our domestic programme or shared internationally. Decisions on vaccine donations will continue to depend on supply chain reliability, Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation advice and the ability of countries to absorb and deploy vaccines.


Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 17 Jan 2022
Elections Bill

"It is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Wycombe (Mr Baker). My hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham North (Alex Norris) did a fabulous job of setting out our opposition to the Bill. I also thank my hon. Friend the Member for Lancaster and Fleetwood (Cat Smith) for …..."
Valerie Vaz - View Speech

View all Valerie Vaz (Lab - Walsall and Bloxwich) contributions to the debate on: Elections Bill

Written Question
Diplomatic Service
Friday 26th November 2021

Asked by: Valerie Vaz (Labour - Walsall and Bloxwich)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will publish (a) how many UK missions overseas are located in premises owned by the UK Government and (b) a list of those missions.

Answered by Amanda Milling

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office currently owns 98 UK missions overseas. The number includes British Embassies, High Commissions, Deputy High Commissions and Consulates. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office publishes a list of locations where there are HMG Overseas Missions that is available online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/list-of-foreign-office-posts.


Written Question
Diplomatic Service: Ethnic Groups
Friday 26th November 2021

Asked by: Valerie Vaz (Labour - Walsall and Bloxwich)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many UK ambassadors are (a) Black, Asian and minority ethnic and (b) to which countries they are ambassadors to.

Answered by Amanda Milling

As of 31 March 2021, 5% of FCDO Heads of Missions, Heads of Posts and Governors declared an ethnicity as Black, Asian or minority ethnic. Further details, including on countries where Heads of Missions, Posts and Governors serve, can be found at https://www.gov.uk/world/organisations.

As part of the FCDO's Inclusion Framework, the Achieving Potential pillar actively supports all staff to achieve their potential. This supports the FCDO's objectives, taking personal action to address barriers faced by groups and individuals and demonstrate all staff are valued for their contributions. The FCDO continues to make progress developing the talent pipeline and supporting participation from under-represented groups in Civil Service Talent Schemes.


Written Question
Diplomatic Service: Females
Friday 26th November 2021

Asked by: Valerie Vaz (Labour - Walsall and Bloxwich)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, (a) how many UK ambassadors are women and (b) to which countries are they ambassadors.

Answered by Amanda Milling

As of 31 March 2021, 33% of Heads of Missions, Heads of Posts and Governors were women. Further details, including on countries where Heads of Missions, Posts and Governors serve, can be found at https://www.gov.uk/world/organisations.

As part of the FCDO's Inclusion Framework, the Achieving Potential pillar actively supports all staff to achieve their potential. This supports the FCDO's objectives, taking personal action to address barriers faced by groups and individuals and demonstrate all staff are valued for their contributions. The FCDO continues to make progress developing the talent pipeline and supporting participation from under-represented groups in Civil Service Talent Schemes.


Written Question
India: Foreign Relations
Friday 26th November 2021

Asked by: Valerie Vaz (Labour - Walsall and Bloxwich)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when she last met with the High Commissioner of India to the UK.

Answered by Amanda Milling

Engagement with the High Commissioner of India to the UK is primarily led at Ministerial level by Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State for South Asia. Lord Ahmad last met the High Commissioner on 13 October. The Foreign Secretary maintains regular engagement with her Government of India counterpart, the External Affairs Minister.


Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 16 Nov 2021
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe

"Very briefly, I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Hampstead and Kilburn (Tulip Siddiq) and wish her and my hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham East (Janet Daby) well. The Ratcliffe family, and Anoosheh Ashoori, Morad Tahbaz, who was born in Hammersmith Hospital, and Mehran Raoof are all British …..."
Valerie Vaz - View Speech

View all Valerie Vaz (Lab - Walsall and Bloxwich) contributions to the debate on: Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe

Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 20 Oct 2021
Yemen: Humanitarian Situation

"Would my hon. Friend take an intervention?..."
Valerie Vaz - View Speech

View all Valerie Vaz (Lab - Walsall and Bloxwich) contributions to the debate on: Yemen: Humanitarian Situation

Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 20 Oct 2021
Yemen: Humanitarian Situation

"I am very grateful. I do not think that my hon. Friend knows how important this debate is to me. Having been born in Aden, and now seeing it war-torn in such a way, I am extremely concerned about what is going on there. I would like to return, at …..."
Valerie Vaz - View Speech

View all Valerie Vaz (Lab - Walsall and Bloxwich) contributions to the debate on: Yemen: Humanitarian Situation