Draft Online Safety Act 2023 (Category 1, Category 2A and Category 2B Threshold Conditions) Regulations 2025

Ashley Fox Excerpts

Tuesday 4th February 2025 General Committees

[Feryal Clark]

I am going to proceed. I think I have covered the main points raised by hon. Members. I hope that the Committee agrees with me on the importance of enacting these thresholds and implementing the Online Safety Act as swiftly as possible. I made it clear that Ofcom has set up a taskforce that will review the small but risky sites, in response to the Secretary of State’s letter to it in September.

[Sir Ashley Fox (Bridgwater) (Con)]

It is an honour to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Christopher. My right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Kenilworth and Southam was Attorney General for four years. It is just possible that his interpretation of the Act is correct, and that of the Minister’s officials is incorrect. I do not have detailed knowledge of this legislation, but I wonder whether the Minister and her Whip want to take some further time and pause before putting these regulations to a vote—that would be perfectly acceptable to us. We will not oppose the regulations, but we are cautious that if the Minister wants more time, she is welcome to take it.

[Feryal Clark]

Although I thank the hon. Member for his contribution, I am sure that he will appreciate that this issue has been looked into and discussed in debates and with officials. With that, I commend these regulations to the Committee.