Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Ian Murray and Matt Hancock

Thursday 16th March 2017 Commons Chamber

[Ian Murray (Edinburgh South) (Lab)]

T4. Many of my constituents have contacted me with concerns about children and young people accessing extreme internet pornography. Will the Minister tell me what the Government are doing to work with Ofcom and internet service providers to protect children and young people?

[Matt Hancock]

This is an important point. The Digital Economy Bill brings forward age verification processes so that all pornography cannot be accessed by those under the age of 18. ISPs will be required to block sites that do not put such age verification in place—that is incredibly important. The Bill is in the Lords at the moment but it will come back to this House shortly.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Ian Murray and Matt Hancock

Thursday 15th December 2016 Commons Chamber

[Ian Murray (Edinburgh South) (Lab)]

5. When she plans to make an announcement on the future status of Channel 4.

[The Minister for Digital and Culture (Matt Hancock)]

We will make an announcement on the future status of Channel 4 in due course.

[Ian Murray]

The Minister knows that Channel 4 not only supports a thriving independent production sector through commissioning, but has proven time and again to be a sustainable and successful business model. We know that the Government like to create uncertainty, but will the Minister take it away from Channel 4, its advertisers and the independent production companies that it supports, and make a decision which has been delayed for far too long?

[Matt Hancock]

As the hon. Gentleman well knows, we are looking at all the options to ensure that we have a strong and sustainable future for Channel 4. I am a great supporter of Channel 4. A Conservative Government in the 1980s put it in place, and we will do what is necessary to sustain its future.