Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Attorney General

Oral Answers to Questions

Tracy Brabin Excerpts
Thursday 13th February 2020

(4 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Matt Warman Portrait Matt Warman
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This Government are absolutely committed to moving as quickly as we possibly can on this legislation. That is why we have said we will be publishing a full response in the spring, and why we will be legislating this Session. Many of the offences that she talks about are already covered by other legislation, but the online harms Bill will bring a coherent and world-leading approach to some of the most important issues of our age.

Tracy Brabin Portrait Tracy Brabin (Batley and Spen) (Lab/Co-op)
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Recent figures from Ofcom show that half of all parents are worried about the online safety of their children, and sadly, as we have heard, they are right to be worried. The Government’s online harms consultation closed more than 200 days ago. If NSPCC estimates are right, there have been more than 20,000 unspeakable child offences and abuses in the time that it has taken for the Government to string together an initial response. We are told that legislation is on its way, but how many more days will anxious parents have to wait? Who will take responsibility for children who are harmed while this Government dither?