Contributions
518 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Children’s Wellbeing and Schools BillOn Friday, after Labour MPs had repeatedly blocked a social media ban for under-16s, we had a new proposal from the Government. It was not a serious response to the issue we are…27 Apr 2026HANSARD Children’s Wellbeing and Schools BillMy right hon. Friend, as ever, is absolutely correct. As on the smartphone ban in schools, we have been fought every step of the way. I am just glad that right at the end of…27 Apr 2026HANSARD Children’s Wellbeing and Schools BillI would be incredibly concerned if that were the case. Would the Minister like to intervene and indicate whether any PPS sitting behind her was doing that? [ Interruption. ] She…27 Apr 2026HANSARD Children’s Wellbeing and Schools BillAs ever, the hon. Gentleman is correct. I am sure that will be picked up by the Minister in her closing remarks.27 Apr 2026HANSARD Children’s Wellbeing and Schools BillMy right hon. Friend is always correct to be worried, but he will know that in Lord Nash’s amendment a 12-month delay was written in. I think it is reasonable to give the…27 Apr 2026HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillI want to start with some good news. After a year of resisting—insisting that a statutory ban on smartphones in schools was, to quote the Prime Minister, “unnecessary”—the…22 Apr 2026HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillAs ever, my right hon. Friend is absolutely right. That is why we need an explicit commitment from the Minister today. I will be delighted if she is able to give that—it would be…22 Apr 2026HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillThe hon. Gentleman will know that we put guidance in place, but we have been explicit that it was not effective and that we needed to put it on the statute book, which is what we…22 Apr 2026HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillThat is absolutely right. Enforcing a very strict policy is what now needs to happen off the back of the new statutory guidance. Let me now turn to the issue of social media and…22 Apr 2026HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillI respect the hon. Gentleman, but he will know that the Government consultation is not on how to implement a social media ban, but on whether to do one at all. That is not good…22 Apr 2026HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillThere is a huge coalition of charities backing a ban. We have tried to police content online, and it has not worked, but we know that policing age will work and make a difference.…22 Apr 2026HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillMy right hon. Friend is absolutely right. Action this day—that is what is required, and that is what we are pushing for.22 Apr 2026HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillThe rise of social media really came about in a serious way in 2015 or 2016 with the rise of front-facing cameras. We took action through the Online Safety Act 2023, which was a…22 Apr 2026HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillThe hon. Lady is absolutely right. What she says speaks to the point that our two parties have been able to come together in the interests of children; it is just the Labour party…22 Apr 2026HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillI really appreciate the Minister engaging with this issue. However, some people could interpret “not having access” as children not being allowed to touch their phone during the…22 Apr 2026HANSARDTopical QuestionsWe learnt last week that in the tragic Southport case, when the headteacher warned about the killer’s increasing extreme behaviour, the social worker accused the headteacher of…20 Apr 2026HANSARDTopical QuestionsIf the Secretary of State wants to start keeping children safe online, then we will stop our objections—but she is refusing to do that. In another example of so-called…20 Apr 2026HANSARD Children’s Wellbeing and Schools BillSince I last stood at this Dispatch Box to argue, again, that we should stop ignoring the evidence and act to ban social media for under-16s, 12 individuals in California have…15 Apr 2026HANSARD Children’s Wellbeing and Schools BillAs ever, my right hon. Friend is entirely correct. The evidence is irrefutable, and the Government need to get on with it.15 Apr 2026HANSARD Children’s Wellbeing and Schools BillMy right hon. Friend is correct. We are involved in a profound battle for childhood and against the screens. The Government have taken some steps in the right direction—their…15 Apr 2026