Children: Dangers of Screen Time

Baroness Laing of Elderslie Excerpts

Monday 1st September 2025 Lords Chamber

Asked by

[Baroness Laing of Elderslie]

To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the dangers of screen time for children.

[The Minister of State, Department for Education (Baroness Smith of Malvern) (Lab)]

My Lords, the Government recognise concerns about the impacts of screen time and are committed to protecting children online. We are continuing to explore how the evidence base on the impact of screen time on children can be improved, because the science is uncertain on the relationship between screen time, social media use and child development. We are assessing evidence gaps and will consider what, if any, further research and action are needed.

[Baroness Laing of Elderslie (Con)]

I thank the Minister for her Answer and appreciate what she says about conflicting evidence, but does she agree with me that there is a problem and that teachers need help solving it? Given that situation, will the Government now advise schools to strictly limit screen time for children, including the screen time in which it is expected that they will do their homework, and thus strengthen the ability of individual teachers to deal with what is undoubtedly recognised as a problem?