Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether she plans to equalise the statutory limitation periods for prosecution in (a) section 66B(1) of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, (b) clause 141 of the Data (Use and Access) Bill and (c) section 127(1) of the Communications Act 2003.

Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

We have tabled a Government amendment to the offence of creating a purported intimate image at clause 135 of the Data (Use and Access) Bill. This will extend the time limit in a similar way to the offence at section 127(1) of the Communications Act 2003, ensuring that perpetrators can be prosecuted for creating an intimate image deepfake without consent, even if it only comes to light more than six months after its creation.

The Women and Equalities Committee has recommended an extension of the time limit for the prosecution of other existing and proposed intimate image offences, and we are carefully reviewing their recommendations.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment she has made of the potential merits of extending time limits for prosecuting summary-only offences involving the taking of intimate images without consent to be brought into line with those for prosecuting the creation and solicitation of intimate images.

Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

We have tabled a Government amendment to the offence of creating a purported intimate image at clause 135 of the Data (Use and Access) Bill. This will extend the time limit in a similar way to the offence at section 127(1) of the Communications Act 2003, ensuring that perpetrators can be prosecuted for creating an intimate image deepfake without consent, even if it only comes to light more than six months after its creation.

The Women and Equalities Committee has recommended an extension of the time limit for the prosecution of other existing and proposed intimate image offences, and we are carefully reviewing their recommendations.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of harmonising the time within which an offence can be tried in court after it has been committed for (a) taking and (b) creating intimate images without consent.

Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

We have tabled a Government amendment to the offence of creating a purported intimate image at clause 135 of the Data (Use and Access) Bill. This will extend the time limit in a similar way to the offence at section 127(1) of the Communications Act 2003, ensuring that perpetrators can be prosecuted for creating an intimate image deepfake without consent, even if it only comes to light more than six months after its creation.

The Women and Equalities Committee has recommended an extension of the time limit for the prosecution of other existing and proposed intimate image offences, and we are carefully reviewing their recommendations.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to provide support to small businesses to offset increases to employer National Insurance contributions.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government has taken difficult but necessary decisions to deliver long-term growth. Fixing the public finances is critical to creating long-term stability in which businesses can invest and thrive.

The Government decided to protect the smallest businesses from the changes to employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs) by increasing the Employment Allowance from £5,000 to £10,500. This means that next year, 865,000 employers will pay no NICs at all, and more than half of all employers will either gain or will see no change. It means employers will be able to employ up to four full-time workers on the National Living Wage without paying employer NICs.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to prevent energy companies profiting from price increases.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Under the default tariff cap, Ofgem has capped the profits of energy suppliers in the retail market to ensure they do not make excessive profits. Since August 2023, the Earnings Before Interest and Tax allowance means that the percentage that energy suppliers can make in profits is capped at 2.4%.

The Government and Ofgem expect suppliers to act responsibly and pass on any reductions in energy prices to consumers. Ofgem has been clear that as prices fall and more consistent profits return, suppliers must act responsibly and pass these reductions on to customers.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to ensure that small but high-risk platforms promoting (a) suicide encouragement and (b) misogyny are subject to the fullest range of duties under the Online Safety Act.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Online Safety Act requires such services to risk assess for illegal content and have measures in place to tackle it. Ofcom have already launched an enforcement programme which includes asking small but high-risk services for their risk assessments by 31 March. Such services will also, where relevant, need to protect children from harmful content.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will commission a report into real-world harms associated with smaller online forums that encourage (a) self-harm, (b) suicide and (c) misogyny.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Online Safety Act requires such services to risk assess for illegal content and have measures in place to tackle it. Ofcom have already launched an enforcement programme which includes asking small but high-risk services for their risk assessments by 31 March. Such services will also, where relevant, need to protect children from harmful content.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will review the criteria used to determine platform categorisation under the Online Safety Act to ensure that small but high-risk platforms hosting (a) suicide-related and (b) misogynistic content are subject to the fullest range of duties.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Under the Online Safety Act, all user-to-user services – including small but high-risk services – must have measures in place to proactively tackle certain types of illegal content, including content which assists suicide and several offences which disproportionately affect women, such as intimate image abuse and harassment. These duties are now in force which means Ofcom can take enforcement action against non-compliant services.

The Secretary of State keeps all legislation under review and will act where necessary to keep people safe online.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he plans to equalise the importance of (a) the nature of the content and (b) the size of the platform when determining platform categorisation under the Online Safety Act.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Under the Online Safety Act, all user-to-user services – including small but high-risk services – must have measures in place to proactively tackle certain types of illegal content, including content which assists suicide and several offences which disproportionately affect women, such as intimate image abuse and harassment. These duties are now in force which means Ofcom can take enforcement action against non-compliant services.

The Secretary of State keeps all legislation under review and will act where necessary to keep people safe online.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he plans to review platform categorisation regulations under the Online Safety Act 2023.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Under the Online Safety Act, all user-to-user services – including small but high-risk services – must have measures in place to proactively tackle certain types of illegal content, including content which assists suicide and several offences which disproportionately affect women, such as intimate image abuse and harassment. These duties are now in force which means Ofcom can take enforcement action against non-compliant services.

The Secretary of State keeps all legislation under review and will act where necessary to keep people safe online.

Found: meeting Members present: Sarah Owen (Chair); Alex Brewer; David Burton-Sampson; Rosie Duffield; Kirith Entwistle

Found: David Burton-Sampson (Labour; Southend West and Leigh) Rosie Duffield (Independent; Canterbury) Kirith Entwistle

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Sarah Owen (Chair); Alex Brewer; David Burton-Sampson; Kirith Entwistle

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Sarah Owen (Chair); Alex Brewer; David Burton-Sampson; Kirith Entwistle

Found: Dame Caroline Dinenage Irene Campbell Llinos Medi Ben Lake Helen Hayes Richard Baker Kirith Entwistle

Found: Dame Caroline Dinenage Irene Campbell Llinos Medi Ben Lake Helen Hayes Richard Baker Kirith Entwistle

Found: Dame Caroline Dinenage Irene Campbell Llinos Medi Ben Lake Helen Hayes Richard Baker Kirith Entwistle

Found: Dame Caroline Dinenage Irene Campbell Llinos Medi Ben Lake Helen Hayes Richard Baker Kirith Entwistle

Found: Dame Caroline Dinenage Irene Campbell Llinos Medi Ben Lake Helen Hayes Richard Baker Kirith Entwistle

Found: Dame Caroline Dinenage Irene Campbell Llinos Medi Ben Lake Helen Hayes Richard Baker Kirith Entwistle

Found: Dame Caroline Dinenage Irene Campbell Llinos Medi Ben Lake Helen Hayes Richard Baker Kirith Entwistle

Found: Dame Caroline Dinenage Irene Campbell Llinos Medi Ben Lake Helen Hayes Richard Baker Kirith Entwistle

Found: Dame Caroline Dinenage Irene Campbell Llinos Medi Ben Lake Helen Hayes Richard Baker Kirith Entwistle

Found: Beavers Siân Berry Ms Stella Creasy Adrian Ramsay Liz Jarvis Wera Hobhouse Alison Hume Kirith Entwistle

The Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) will hold a session in Parliament on Wednesday, 5 March to look at the prevalence and impact of female genital mutilation (FGM) in the UK and to examine the work of the UK Government to prevent FGM and to address the health consequences of survivors of FGM.