Crime and Policing Bill

Baroness Kidron Excerpts

Consideration of Commons amendments and / or reasons
Thursday 16th April 2026 Lords Chamber

Moved by

[Baroness Kidron]

Leave out from “House” to end and insert “do insist on its Amendments 360, 368, 369, 370, 371 and 372.”

[Baroness Kidron (CB)]

My Lords, the supporters of Motion V1 have decided, in the interest of time, not to speak, but they are very keen to indicate that there is passionate support across the House for what I will say now. Also, I have cut my speech very short, so that we can get to the vote.

I am grateful to the Minister and Minister Narayan from the other place for their time last night, but I am disappointed that they agreed to meet only after they had already laid their amendment. At every point during the passage of the Bill, I have tried to get the Government to address the substance of the issues—the presence, right now, of chatbots that are grooming and coercing children, and that parents with a child in crisis have no one to turn to—but I have been met with process, not action. The Government’s amendment in lieu that offers a report by the end of the year to say what they have or have not done is an indication of process not action.

--- Later in debate ---

[Lord Hanson of Flint (Lab)]

First of all, I pay tribute to the noble Baroness, Lady Kidron, who has been an indefatigable campaigner on this issue. I share the objective of trying to ensure that we protect children from chatbots, and I want to be clear that the Government share the House’s objective as a whole. We are aligned on the need to address the harms that arise from AI-generated illegal content. This is a disagreement about the question of what is the most effective and enforceable way in practice. The amendment in lieu reflects the balance the Government wish to bring. Our regulatory approach maintains a coherent approach under the Online Safety Act and reinforces Parliament’s ability to scrutinise delivery. For those reasons, I urge the House to support the amendment in lieu.

I know we are going to have a Division on this, but I hope that whatever the outcome of that Division, we can agree after it that this House is committed to ensuring that we protect children through regulation on chatbots. I hope the noble Baroness will not press her Motion V1, but if she does, I urge my noble friends to vote against it.

[Baroness Kidron (CB)]

My Lords, there will indeed be a Division. I am grateful to the Minister for suggesting that he will bring to the House, to the committees and to me personally his regulations. But those regulations do not extend to enforcement or to redress, and they do not give parents and children anywhere to go. I am absolutely willing to work with the Government, but I will give them one more opportunity to work with me on this, and the only way I have is to send these amendments the other place so that they can bring forward plans for real change. For that reason, I ask the House to agree with Motion V1.