Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government how evidence from national and public bodies, including the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, teaching unions and the security services, will be balanced against submissions from technology companies and members of the public in the consultation on children's social media use.

Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The government has announced a consultation and national conversation to gather evidence to understand how best we can build on the Online Safety Act’s provisions to ensure children have positive, enriched digital lives.

We will consult parents, the organisations representing children and bereaved parents, technology companies and, crucially, children and young people themselves, because their views and voices must be heard. We will make sure that the consultation is evidence-led, with input from independent experts.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what methodology they will employ in the consultation on children's social media use, both in terms of design and dissemination.

Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

We have launched a consultation exploring children’s use of technology. It seeks to understand how children can better be protected online, and how wellbeing can improve and enrich children’s lives. It will gather views on proposals including banning social media for under‑16s and restricting ‘addictive’ online features

The consultation is accessible for all – we hope to hear from parents, children’s organisations, bereaved families and industry - and from children themselves. We have also developed a child and parent-friendly version of the consultation and are progressing a national conversation where we will engage with these groups.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has had discussions with whistleblowers from the former Tavistock Gender Identity Development Service regarding the PATHWAYS Puberty Blocker Trial.

Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has met with a variety of stakeholders to discuss gender services, including former staff at the Tavistock Gender Identity Development Service. Baroness Cass also met with former Gender Identity Development Service staff, including whistleblowers, while developing her Independent Review of Gender Identity Services for Children and Young People.

The review rightly received cross-party support, as the most definitive assessment of children’s gender services and gender identity to date. It also recommended a clinical trial to gather the evidence required.

Given that there are live legal proceedings, we are unable to comment on the PATHWAYS trial.

Suggested amendments to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, made by Lord Nash, Baroness Cass, and Baroness Benjamin, would require nearly every smartphone or tablet to surveil its owner by continuously scanning the device. This proposal must be rejected.

Found: Suggested amendments to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, made by Lord Nash, Baroness Cass,

Withdraw the new clauses following Clause 27 authored by a "Lord Nash", "Baroness Cass" and "Baroness Benjamin" on VPNs and monitoring software

Found: Withdraw the new clauses following Clause 27 authored by a "Lord Nash", "Baroness Cass" and "Baroness

Found: Backed by Baroness Cass, whose review warned that strong evidence about the impact of social transition

No description available