Valerie raises women business mentors and visitor visas in the House

On Thursday 24 May 2012, at Business, Innovation and Skills oral questions, Valerie Vaz, MP for Walsall South, asked the Minister what the Government is doing to encourage more women business mentors.  Valerie also raised the issue of visitors visas with  the Leader of the House, the Rt. Hon. Sir George Young MP.

Valerie Vaz MP said:

“The latest figures from the Government show that on the  FTSE 100 boards  only 15.6% are women.  I asked the Minister what steps the Department was taking to encourage more women business mentors. I am pleased the Minister said he would look at what more can be done to encourage more female business mentors.”

You can read the exchange in Hansard by clicking here.

On visitor visas, Valerie Vaz MP said:

“A number of my constituents have raised concerns about the number of visitor visa applications for family members to enter the UK being turned down.  This has  cost them thousands of pounds despite guarantees from family members that their visitors will return. Even if appeals are overturned, it is often not in time for some people who are travelling  for an event such as a wedding or a funeral. The Government must look at this policy to see whether it is being applied consistently.”

Following Valerie’s question, the leader of the House said that he would share her concerns with the Immigration Minister.

You can read the exchange in Hansard by clicking here.