Oral Answers to Questions

Rebecca Smith Excerpts

Thursday 12th November 2026 Commons Chamber

[Ian Murray]

Through the course of the consultation with Members, society and the industry on the under-16 social media ban, a lot of issues have arisen across the age ranges regarding smart glasses and some of the harms of new technologies. We are actively looking at what needs to be done in that area, particularly with smart glasses. It is a security issue and a safety issue; indeed, it is a consent issue. Smart glasses should not be any different from any other issues regarding people’s consent for using their images online and what is being done with those images.

[Rebecca Smith (South West Devon) (Con)]

11. What steps she is taking to help tackle antisemitism in cultural institutions.

[The Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (Lisa Nandy)]

When I was appointed as Culture Secretary two and a half years ago, I was horrified to receive a letter from a Member of this House concerning the case of her constituent who had had his film pulled from a prominent arts venue simply because he was Jewish. In response to that, we set up a group convened jointly by Lord John Mann and Phil Rosenberg of the Board of Deputies to look at that issue. It is an ongoing problem. We have taken a number of steps, including asking Arts Council England to conduct an independent audit of how it handles antisemitism, and we have increased the amount of funding that we provide to Jewish organisations, including for security costs, because safety and security can never become an excuse for tolerating antisemitism and allowing Jewish people to be silenced.

[Rebecca Smith]

A growing number of Jewish employees at the BBC report that they face anti-Jewish racism at work, and revelations about the BBC’s appalling treatment of Jewish Oscar-winning producer Lucie Kon show that there has been a failure to deal with antisemitism at the heart of the corporation. Does the Secretary of State agree that an independent inquiry into antisemitism within the BBC is urgently needed?

[Lisa Nandy]

The hon. Lady mentions the case of Lucie Kon, which I have discussed directly with the director general of the BBC. I will also meet Lucie in the coming weeks to discuss the matter directly with her. The BBC has done an enormous amount of work on the issue with the Board of Deputies and other Jewish organisations, but I firmly recognise that there is more to be done. We want the BBC to be an exemplar of how the Jewish community is treated in this country. I say this too: this Government do not believe that antisemitism is just a problem for Jewish people to solve. It is a test of the society that we are seeking to build together and we all have to step up and be counted.

--- Later in debate ---

[Stephanie Peacock]

My hon. Friend is right to talk about stronger co-ordination between heritage planning, regeneration and housing policy. I know how important heritage-led regeneration is for local growth, and I understand that the Heritage Minister is looking forward to holding a roundtable on that issue in my hon. Friend’s area.

[Rebecca Smith (South West Devon) (Con)]

T7. I recently visited Wombat Cricket in Ivybridge, where self-taught Harry and his team make handcrafted cricket bats from local willow. The trade agreement with India, negotiations for which began under the previous Conservative Government, will phase out tariffs on cricket bats over five years. Does the Secretary of State agree that we should make the most of this freedom to support British sports manufacturers and grassroots sport?

[Lisa Nandy]

The hon. Lady raises an important issue. I was not previously aware of the issue, but I am happy to it take up. We believe in the importance of cricket and we also believe very much in the relationships that we have with our Indian counterparts. Cricket is one of the ties that binds us together, so I would be pleased to look into the issue she raises with a view to resolving it.