Lee Pitcher MP: written questions
81 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Driving LicencesDepartment for TransportTabled 20 May 2026AnsweredUIN 3615More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to increase the speed at which the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency processes driving licence renewals.
Answer: The quickest way to transact with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is by using its online services. The DVLA’s target is to dispatch 95 per cent of straightforward online driving licence applications within three working days and 90 per cent...
Answered 2 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordPrison Officers: Industrial DisputesMinistry of JusticeTabled 18 May 2026AnsweredUIN 2493More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the case for restoring the right to strike for prison officers in England and Wales.
Answer: Prison officers work in difficult environments every day, with some of the most challenging people in society. The Government recognises that the work of prison officers is of critical importance in protecting the public and ensuring the safety and securi...
Answered 27 May 2026
Original Parliament recordSmall Businesses: KeroseneDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1014More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what financial support his Department has provided to small businesses in the context of recent trends in the level of kerosene costs.
Answer: The government recognises that many businesses across the country will see the global events and be concerned about the impact on their fuel bills. We are monitoring the situation closely and actively engaging with industry and trade associations to under...
Answered 22 May 2026
Original Parliament recordME/CFS: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 27 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 130024More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that integrated care boards are held accountable for commissioning services for those with very severe ME/CFS the absence of a national specialise
Answer: Integrated care boards (ICBs) are expected to commission services for people with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) across all levels of severity, including those with severe and very severe ME/CFS, in line with national standard...
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordReligious Buildings: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 6 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118614More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the ability of places of worship to reclaim VAT on repairs and maintenance works following the replacement of the Listed Places of Worship Grant S
Answer: The Department has not made an assessment of the ability of places of worship to reclaim VAT following the ending of the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme. The Places of Worship Renewal Fund will have a budget of £23 million per year. The Places of Wo...
Answered 16 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordCheques: EqualityTreasuryTabled 5 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118389More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has made an of the potential impact of banks not accepting cheques on groups with protected characteristics; and whether she has discussions about this with (a) the Financial Conduct Authority
Answer: The Government recognises that cheques remain an important payment method for some people, including those with protected characteristics. UK’s largest retail banks continue to accept cheques through a range of channels, including at bank branches, in ban...
Answered 11 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordAnimal Products: ImportsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104996More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of food imports produced to lower animal welfare standards on the competitiveness of UK farmers.
Answer: The Government shares the public’s high regard for the high animal welfare standards we have in this country; they are one of the selling points of our British farming industry and are greatly valued by consumers both at home and abroad. As set out in the...
Answered 20 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordListed Places of Worship Grant SchemeDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 8 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104349More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of ending the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme on (a) listed religious buildings and (b) their congregations.
Answer: While we have confirmed the extension of the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme until 31 March 2026, the future funding of the scheme after this date is being assessed and considered as we work through the output of the Spending Review and the Departme...
Answered 15 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordMaternity PayDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 6 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 103610More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of statutory maternity pay levels on (a) workforce retention and (b) maternal health outcomes.
Answer: The Government has committed to review the parental leave and pay system.
Answered 14 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordCCTV: HousingDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 1 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 95913More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether her Department plans to review the legal and regulatory framework governing the domestic use of CCTV, with particular reference to protections for individuals whose homes or pri
Answer: The department has no plans to review the current legal and regulatory framework governing the domestic use of CCTV, which can play a useful role in making householders feel safe and helping the police to prevent crime.Individuals that use CCTV to film ou...
Answered 9 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordMultiple Occupation: Planning PermissionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 26 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94915More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to review planning regulations for houses in multiple occupation.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 22786 on 17 January 2025.The government continues to keep permitted development rights under review.
Answered 5 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: Flood ControlMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94458More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications of his policies the recommendation in the report entitled FloodReady – an action plan to build the resilience of peopl
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 81948 on 21 October 2025.
Answered 3 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: Inheritance TaxTreasuryTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94362More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the report by CenTax entitled A fair solution to inheritance tax on farms and small businesses, published on 15 August 2025, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the proposal f
Answer: The Government believes its reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief from 6 April 2026 get the balance right between supporting farms and businesses, fixing the public finances, and funding public services. The reforms reduce t...
Answered 3 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordEmployment: DisabilityDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 18 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92453More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when the Disability Confident Scheme was last evaluated, what metrics were used, and whether the Department plans to review employer compliance with the guaranteed interview commitment.
Answer: In 2022, the department ran a survey to understand from members’ perspectives the impact that signing up to the Disability Confident scheme has had on their organisations. Metrics in the survey included members’ recruitment and retention attitudes and pra...
Answered 21 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordBus Services: FranchisesDepartment for TransportTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89079More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of bus franchising on community connectivity in rural villages.
Answer: The Government is committed to delivering better bus services, including in rural areas. We have set out a plan to achieve this based on giving local leaders the powers they need and empowering them to choose the service model that works best in their are...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: Rural AreasDepartment for TransportTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89078More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment into the social value of increasing rail connectivity (a) in and (b) between rural and semi-rural areas.
Answer: Assessments of the social value of increasing rail connectivity (a) in and (b) between rural and semi-rural areas are calculated on a case-by-case basis to reflect local economic conditions, using Transport Analysis Guidance (TAG). As an aid to understand...
Answered 18 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: StandardsDepartment for TransportTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89077More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the adequacy of restoration of rail service levels to pre COVID-19 levels.
Answer: We regularly review and publish passenger demand levels and work closely with operators to ensure they provide sufficient capacity to meet demand wherever possible. We have been clear with operators that they should meet demand in a manner that supports o...
Answered 18 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: Doncaster East and the Isle of AxholmeMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89074More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether there are plans to build new service family accommodation in the constituency of Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme.
Answer: The Defence Housing Strategy sets out a vision for the future renewal of the Service family estate, backed by a 10-year programme of investment. Until the Strategy implementation plan is finalised, we are unable to confirm any future plans for new Service...
Answered 18 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordInternet: SafetyDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89073More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to ensure the Online Safety Act 2023 does not result in unintended consequences for (a) freedom of expression and (b) access to (i) supportive and (i
Answer: Under the Act, both Ofcom and in-scope companies will have duties relating to freedom of expression, for which they can be held to account. Platforms will not be able to arbitrarily remove content and users will have access to effective complaints procedu...
Answered 18 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordChild Maintenance Service: StandardsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 21 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 906019More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to improve the Child Maintenance Service.
Answer: The Government has announced ambitious plans to reform the CMS. Moving all cases to a single service, where payments are collected and transferred will provide an improved service, quickly identifying and tackling missed payments and lifting more children...
Answered 27 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordFunctional Neurological Disorder: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 14 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82132More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure equitable access England to (a) diagnosis, (b) treatment and (c) specialist rehabilitation services for patients with Functional Neurological Disorder.
Answer: The majority of services for people with neurological conditions, including functional neurological disorder (FND), are commissioned locally. Integrated care board (ICB) commissioners are best placed to configure services for their populations and are sup...
Answered 28 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Rented Housing: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 14 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82131More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of increasing the rate of office-to-residential asset conversions to accelerate the delivery of social housing.
Answer: Under nationally set permitted development rights a wide range of commercial buildings such as offices and shops are able to change use to residential without the need for a planning application. The government continues to keep permitted development righ...
Answered 21 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordAgriculture and Small Businesses: Inheritance TaxTreasuryTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80434More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the report by CenTax entitled A fair solution to inheritance tax on farms and small businesses, published on 15 August 2025.
Answer: The Government believes its reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief from 6 April 2026 get the balance right between supporting farms and businesses, and fixing the public finances. The reforms reduce the inheritance tax advant...
Answered 17 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordDriving TestsDepartment for TransportTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80433More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to her Department's press release entitled Transport Secretary acts to make thousands of extra driving tests available each month, published on 23 April 2025, how many driving test places have be
Answer: The table below shows the number of car practical driving tests provided for the months April 2025 to September 2025.AprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberTotal155,582161,039172,327185,901158,511183,762
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordHigh Rise Flats: InsulationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80432More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that cladding remediation works on high-risk buildings are not subject to avoidable delays in the building control approval process
Answer: The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) has established a dedicated external remediation team who assess all building control approval applications for cladding remediation. The team is already delivering engagement events to improve developers’ understanding...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament record
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