Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to protect the accounts of online businesses business from being erroneously temporarily disabled.

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

The Government acknowledges the impact of disabled accounts on businesses and that tech platforms need robust complaints systems. The Online Safety Act (OSA) requires in-scope services to have clear and accessible terms of service setting out the kinds of content allowed on their platforms and in what circumstances they might suspend or ban a user.

The OSA also requires in scope services to enable users and affected persons to complain to the service provider if they consider that the provider is not complying with any of their relevant duties or if they believe their account has been unfairly suspended.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will have discussions with Meta on the potential impact of (a) the adequacy of its customer support team and (b) accounts being temporarily disabled on UK businesses; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of legislating minimum service standards in those areas to support UK businesses that rely on the services of (i) Meta and (ii) other online platforms.

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

Ministers and officials have regular meetings with Meta on a range of issues, including their support for UK businesses.

The Online Safety Act (OSA), enacted in October 2023, requires in-scope platforms to have clear and accessible terms of service setting out what kinds of content are allowed on their platforms and in what circumstances they might suspend or ban a user. The Act also mandates that platforms provide users and affected persons with an accessible complaints process if they consider their account has been unfairly restricted or suspended.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential importance of business support functionalities by online platforms such as META.

Answered by Gareth Thomas - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Adoption of digital technologies, including social media such as META's Facebook and Instagram platforms, can significantly increase business productivity. The Department is working with the SME Digital Adoption Taskforce and the Cross-government Review of Technology Adoption on new ways to support this.

It is also important for government to provide and promote business support through a range of channels, to expand access. The Business Support Service offers tailored information and advice on social media, including Facebook, and organisations like the British Business Bank and local Growth Hubs maintain a presence on a range of online platforms including LinkedIn and YouTube.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 15 November 2024 to Question 12940 on Non-surgical Cosmetic Procedures: Regulation, whether he has made an estimate of the potential cost to the public purse of rectifying unregulated cosmetic procedures.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

We have made no estimate of the potential cost to the public purse of rectifying complications relating to cosmetic procedures.

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