Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she has had discussions with social media companies on (a) adverts by unqualified operatives offering gas work and (b) the potential merits of implementing (i) pre‑advertising checks for Gas Safe accreditation and (ii) proactive takedowns of unsafe listings.

The Secretary of State has had no discussions with social media companies on this matter.

The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 make it a criminal offence for anyone who is not on the Gas Safe Register to carry out gas work in domestic properties.

The Advertising Standards Authority requires all advertising to be legal and socially responsible. It is working with online platforms which have signed up to its Intermediary and Platform Principles to encourage compliance with the advertising codes online.

The Online Advertising Taskforce, chaired by the Minister for Creative Industries, Media and Arts, is also working to improve transparency and accountability in the online advertising supply chain.