Business of the House

Lee Pitcher Excerpts

Thursday 11th December 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

This has been a divisive matter almost from the off, including in this House. On occasions, we rose to the challenge of the debate, and sometimes we slipped a little below it. However, this House made its position on the Bill very clear, and off it went to the other place. The other place has a duty and responsibility to scrutinise such legislation, but there are conventions about the way it does that. I would urge it to do everything it can to respect the view of this House—the elected Chamber—on these matters. I have made it very clear that if the Bill returns to this place, perhaps amended, we may look at making available further time on Fridays, if necessary, so that it can make more progress, and we can get it across the line.

[Lee Pitcher (Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme) (Lab)]

I need to say that my lovely mum is a WASPI—Women Against State Pension Inequality Campaign—woman. On Budget day, I met representatives from the WASPI campaign, following the Government’s recent announcement that they will once again review their decision not to compensate women born in the 1950s who were affected by changes to the state pension age. The WASPI campaign has been renewed, now that there is hope for justice and a fair outcome at long last. Will the Leader of the House confirm that the House will be kept fully informed of progress on the review, including through an oral statement once the Government have reached a decision, and that time will be made for full debate on any proposals brought forward?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I know this issue is of serious concern to many women. It has been raised on numerous occasions in the House, and we want to resolve the matter as soon as we can. The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has committed to updating the House on any decision as soon as a conclusion is reached.

Business of the House

Lee Pitcher Excerpts

Thursday 4th December 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I gently challenge the hon. Lady, because the Government have not ignored warnings about the sector at all. In fact, there were measures in the Budget that are intended to help. There is one important day left, in the final week before the recess, to raise matters about the Budget when we discuss the Finance Bill, so she may wish to raise those issues then. The stages of the Finance Bill will then be debated, probably on the Floor of the House, and she may wish to try to get on to the Committee. However, I gently say to her that although some of the decisions taken in the Budget were difficult, their central intent is to bear down on the cost of living, and the hospitality sector will benefit from people having more money in their pockets.

[Lee Pitcher (Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme) (Lab)]

There is nothing more special and beautiful in life than seeing a child’s face light up when they get to see Santa, but not every family can afford to go to a grotto. Will the Leader of the House join me in thanking all the amazing volunteer organisations, such as the Rotary clubs and the Lions clubs—I am a Doncaster Lion myself—whose members walk the streets, go to food banks and go to supermarkets to see the children and bring Christmas spirit to Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme and places across the country?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I join my hon. Friend in thanking all the volunteers, particularly from the Rotary clubs and the Lions clubs, across the country for all their hard work. It is people like them who make the Christmas season so special. I wish him well in his Santa dash—I am sure he will make a dashing Santa.

Business of the House

Lee Pitcher Excerpts

Thursday 27th November 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I join my hon. Friend in congratulating Members who support Movember, not least because of the money that they raise for important causes. I am heartened that those issues get the awareness that they deserve. I congratulate him on what he is doing, and thank him for what was a very moving contribution to the debate on International Men’s Day.

[Lee Pitcher (Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme) (Lab)]

Niagara Falls was the venue for this year’s world kickboxing championships. Andy Crittenden’s martial arts centre put Rossington firmly on the global map, winning four bronze, one silver and five gold medals. Will the Leader of the House join me in celebrating Andy’s triumph and congratulating all the contestants who took part, and in thanking the coaches and volunteers up and down the country who bring children and young adults’ sporting dreams to life?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I am pleased to hear about the success of the young martial arts athletes from Rossington, and I am grateful for the opportunity to thank Andy and all the sports coaches across our country who help to make achievements like this possible.

Business of the House

Lee Pitcher Excerpts

Thursday 30th October 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

Absolutely. I join my hon. Friend in recognising our armed forces, and I thank both past and present servicemen and women for their valiant work in keeping us safe. As I look around the Chamber, I see hon. Members proudly wearing their poppies, so I know that that sentiment is shared by Members from across the House.

[Lee Pitcher (Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme) (Lab)]

Will the Leader of the House update us on the progress that is being made to finalise the transfer of the £2.3 billion reserve of the British Coal staff superannuation scheme?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

We are working with BCSSS trustees to consider those proposals. We are trying to get an agreement and an outcome that can be implemented later this year, and I will ensure that the House is kept updated on any decision.

Business of the House

Lee Pitcher Excerpts

Thursday 23rd October 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

Yes, I can.

[Lee Pitcher (Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme) (Lab)]

Young adults in my constituency are still waiting more than five months for a driving test. It is just not fair. They cannot get to work; they cannot have apprenticeships. Will the Leader of the House join me in pushing the Department for Transport to do something about this very quickly?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

Yes, I will. I thank my hon. Friend for raising this matter, which has been highlighted by a number of Members. I have also raised it with the Department for Transport. The Government are accelerating a consultation into the abuse of the driving test booking system and the reasons that we do not have enough places. I will ensure that the Transport Secretary has heard his concerns directly.

Business of the House

Lee Pitcher Excerpts

Thursday 16th October 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

So far, 750 schools are offering free breakfast clubs, which puts, on average, £450 a year back into parents’ pockets, and we intend to extend free school meals too. I understand that areas believe this may not be enough, or that other areas are better off. I will draw that to the attention of the Chancellor, but so can the hon. Lady at Treasury questions.

[Lee Pitcher (Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme) (Lab)]

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Bawtry in my constituency is once again painting the town pink to help raise awareness. This year, it has launched its own “Legally Blonde” inspired bend and check campaign to remind everyone to take charge of checking their own breast health. To support the cause, will the Leader of the House join me in wishing the team at Visit Bawtry the very best of luck in raising money for Breast Cancer Now?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I join my hon. Friend in wishing the Visit Bawtry team success in raising money for such an important cause. We know that early diagnosis is vital, which is why we are upgrading 30 testing centres across the country with the latest digital AI to catch cancer early, and I support local initiatives such as the one that he mentioned.

Business of the House

Lee Pitcher Excerpts

Thursday 4th September 2025 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Powell]

As ever, alongside legislation we publish all the necessary documents, including the costings, which we have been transparent about. I gently say to the right hon. Gentleman that before the election his Government embarked on 11 rounds of negotiations; they knew that the Government needed to resolve this issue in order to protect our defence and security for generations to come. I am pleased that we have managed to get that deal across the line.

[Lee Pitcher (Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme) (Lab)]

Last weekend, a group of volunteers launched a fundraising activity to put on a new annual show hosting a hoedown in Epworth. Will the Leader of the House join me in wishing the rootin’ tootin’ team the best of luck in whip-cracking away on future events to raise loot to put on the first Isle country show in the year-haw 2026?

[Lucy Powell]

That is how it is done! My hon. Friend was once the master of Doncaster airport, and he is now the master of business question puns. I absolutely join him in wishing the team the best of luck.

Business of the House

Lee Pitcher Excerpts

Thursday 3rd July 2025 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Powell]

I am sorry to hear about the pavement parking and parking problems in Polegate. Pavement parking can cause real problems, especially for wheelchair users and others. Local authorities have the powers to tackle the issue, but we constantly keep it under review. I know lots of us have received many emails about the issue in recent weeks.

[Lee Pitcher (Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme) (Lab)]

I recently spent the day with the amazing volunteer team at the Bread and Butter Thing at the Fair Green pub in Thorne, helping to distribute surplus food to local residents in need. Does the Leader of the House agree that charities, like the Bread and Butter Thing, and the volunteers who dedicate their time are the true heroes of our communities? Will she also join me in thanking the supermarkets and businesses that donate surplus food to be turned into nutritious, affordable bags of shopping for those families who really need that help?

[Lucy Powell]

I join my hon. Friend in thanking those at the Bread and Butter Thing for all the work that they do in tackling food poverty in his constituency. I am sorry that food poverty is still such a blight on many of our communities, but the work that supermarkets and others do—donating food so that it does not go to waste and can help to tackle these issues—is really important.

Business of the House

Lee Pitcher Excerpts

Thursday 12th June 2025 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Powell]

May I thank the hon. Gentleman for raising this issue? The Government remain deeply concerned about the use of blasphemy laws to undermine human rights in Pakistan, and those conversations between our Government and other Governments happen continuously. The Foreign Secretary is in his place, so I am sure that he has heard the hon. Gentleman’s call.

[Lee Pitcher (Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme) (Lab)]

June is indeed a very special month for birthdays—as you will know, Mr Speaker, given that you celebrated your birthday this week. Will the Leader of the House join me in celebrating the 100th birthday of the Doncaster Free Press and recognise the importance of local newspapers in our regions?

[Lucy Powell]

Well, I can confirm that it was not Mr Speaker’s 100th birthday—he falls well short of that. Weren’t you 21 again this week, Mr Speaker? I join my hon. Friend in congratulating Doncaster Free Press and all our local newspapers on continuing to provide a trusted source of local news that many of our constituents rely on.

Business of the House

Lee Pitcher Excerpts

Thursday 27th March 2025 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Powell]

Absolutely. I know of these issues very well from my own constituency. As my hon. Friend said, we are introducing the short-term let registration scheme and abolishing the furnished holiday lets tax regime to remove some tax incentives. From April, councils can opt to charge a council tax premium of up to 100% on second homes. I will ensure that Ministers hear her plea to be part of that registration scheme.

[Lee Pitcher (Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme) (Lab)]

My remarkable constituent Pat Smith has dedicated 60 years of his life to coaching basketball, football and other sports, including 37 years leading the Hatfield Fliers basketball club. Will the Leader of the House join me in thanking Pat for his exceptional service and for being an absolutely brilliant role model to many generations, and wishing him a happy and fulfilling retirement?

[Lucy Powell]

I join my hon. Friend in congratulating Pat and wishing him a fantastic and happy retirement. He deserves a good pat on the back.