Valerie visited Whitehall Junior School to present certificates to School Council Members in recognition of their year as a Member of the School Council.

John Hayes MP, Minister of State for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning announced on 12 July 2012 that he would be introducing a package of concessions on the Government’s plan to end direct support of Further Education and offer Further Education loans instead.  The changes announced will allow individuals taking Access to Higher Education courses to write off the amount outstanding on the loan upon completion of their Access course.  The Government also plans to increase investment support for STEM subjects and create bursaries to help vulnerable learners like parents who have childcare responsibilites. 

At Deputy Prime Minister Questions on Tuesday 10 July 2012, Valerie Vaz MP asked about the introduction of a British Bill of Rights and what impact it would have on the Human Rights Act 1998.  

On Thursday 5 July 2012 Valerie raised the issue of equalising the rights of adoptive parents in a Westminister Hall Debate on Adoption initiated by Sheryl Murray MP for South East Cornwall and responded to by Tim Loughton MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families.

On Friday 6 July 2012 Valerie met with a group of Sixth Form Students at Alumwell Business and Enterprise College in Pleck to discuss global poverty and political participation.