In-game Purchases: Protections for Children

Debate between Baroness Twycross and Lord Butler of Brockwell

Thursday 15th January 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Butler of Brockwell]

To ask His Majesty’s Government what progress they have made towards implementing protections for children from harmful in-game purchases, including loot boxes.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Baroness Twycross) (Lab)]

The Government are committed to ensuring games are enjoyed safely and responsibly by everyone, including children. Industry-led guidance to improve protections to players in relation to loot boxes was published in 2023. A 12-month implementation period ended in July 2024, and we commissioned independent research to assess its effectiveness. We have engaged relevant government departments and regulators to consider the research. We will publish the report and set out our next steps in the coming months.

[Lord Butler of Brockwell (CB)]

My Lords, I am grateful for that reply. Is it not time that loot boxes were recognised for what they are—a form of gambling highly addictive to children? The last Government opted for industry-led regulation, but independent research shows that it is not being effectively applied. Will the Government act to ensure safe regulation, particularly for children?

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

Clearly, protection for children is key. But as the noble Lord rightly states, loot boxes are not currently legally considered gambling, as individuals are not able to cash out their purchases as currency. Where unlicensed gambling is identified, the Gambling Commission has shown that it will take swift enforcement action. I mentioned the report that was finalised and received in December; the Government are considering the implications of these findings along with other government departments and relevant regulators. We have committed to publishing its findings and we will do so shortly alongside our next steps, including keeping our position on possible future legislative options under review.

Ministerial Code: Policy Announcements

Debate between Baroness Twycross and Lord Butler of Brockwell

Wednesday 30th October 2024 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

My Lords, I repeat that we take our obligations to Parliament seriously. I do not think that most of what was in the Budget was pre-briefed. This Budget makes difficult choices on tax, spending and welfare, with the intention of restoring stability, fixing the foundations and investing in the future of Britain. Importantly, we are delivering on our manifesto, which will protect people’s payslips as income tax, employee national insurance and VAT stay the same but businesses and the wealthiest are asked to pay their fair share. We make no apologies for the content of the Budget and I am very proud of the history of the Labour Party in rebuilding our country; we intend to rebuild it again.

[Lord Butler of Brockwell (CB)]

My Lords, while the principle behind this Question is undoubtedly right, does the Minister agree that trying to prevent Governments in this day and age rolling the pitch before a major announcement is like King Canute asking the tide to turn? I endorse what the noble Lord, Lord Wallace, said; there is some merit, as recent experience has shown, in not surprising the markets with very sensitive announcements.

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

I agree with the noble Lord on markets and I am sure that, in the other place, previous Chancellors from previous Governments might feel that they would have been better placed had this happened. We need to get the balance right. We are very clear that we have an obligation to Parliament. The point about the markets and having a bit of common sense has considerable merit.

Whitehall: Prioritising Performance

Debate between Baroness Twycross and Lord Butler of Brockwell

Tuesday 10th September 2024 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

Success profiles provide a common framework for recruiters to assess the key attributes for roles, including skills and experience. Behaviours are not compulsory. The Government People Group is due to review the content and application of, and support for, success profiles in 2025 as part of continuing work to improve the quality and openness of recruitment. The Government are reviewing the options for a mid-career scheme as workforce demands in the next spending review are established. Many roles are open to external recruitment at all grades, with talent schemes such as the Future Leaders Scheme available to support rapid progression through to more senior levels. Regarding diversity of thinking, currently around 10% of those on the Future Leaders Scheme declare as neurodiverse.

[Lord Butler of Brockwell (CB)]

My Lords, having discovered that, in this context, Reform is a think tank rather than a political party, I warmly welcome the recommendations in the report for the identification and development of talent in the Civil Service. Does the Minister agree that the Civil Service is more likely to respond to positive and constructive leadership than to the scapegoating and bad-mouthing from which it too frequently suffered under the last Government?

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

I thank the noble Lord for his clarification that this is the think tank, which might have been a useful clarification as a first point. The report looks at brand issues, and there is a quote within the report that the Civil Service brand is “battered”. One of the things that the report makes very clear is that, as a Government, we need the best people to get the best results for the country. In Keir Starmer’s message to the Civil Service on his succession to the role of Prime Minister, he made it clear that he knew how much civil servants believe in what they are doing for the country, and he said that they had taught him a great deal about what public service really means.