2013 February

At Women and Equalities Questions on 14 Febraury 2013, Valerie asked the Minister about the representation of women on company boards.

Valerie Vaz, Member of Parliament for Walsall South published a table of complaints from patients of Walsall Manor Hospital who have contacted her.

On Wednesday 13 February 2013 Valerie met with Hugh Grant and representatives of the Hacked Off Campaign in Westminster to highlight her continued support for the recommendations made in the Leveson Report regarding press regulation.

Valerie said

“I agree with the main recommendation in the Leveson Report that there should be self-regulation of the press with statutory underpinning. This would guarantee the independence of the media and promote ethical standards.”

“It is essential that we uphold the freedom of the press which is central to our democracy. However, it is also crucial for the press to remain accountable and regulation of the press by law would ensure minimum standards are met.”

“The victims of the hacking scandal saw an unacceptable invasion into their private lives. We must take steps to ensure such intrusion never occurs in the future and that complaints regarding the media are dealt with effectively.”

On Tuesday 12 February 2013, the Health Select Committee of which Valerie Vaz MP, Walsall South, is a member, heard evidence from Robert Francis QC on his Report of the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust Public Inquiry.