Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the projected impact of new powers granted to Ofcom under the Online Safety Act 2023 on the level of online abuse against women and girls.

Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Under the Online Safety Act, platforms must proactively tackle illegal content, much of which disproportionately affects women and girls.

Services likely to be accessed by children must also protect children from harmful and age-inappropriate content including abuse.

Category 1 services will also need to remove legal misogynistic content, where their terms of service prohibit it.

As of 17 March Ofcom can take robust enforcement action against those failing to comply with their illegal safety duties. The effectiveness of the Act will be kept under review.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government on what date the national audit on group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse, led by Baroness Casey, will be published.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

The audit will conclude within three months of commencement and Baroness Casey will submit a written report, which will detail the evidence and findings across the areas detailed at section 2 of the Terms of Reference (which is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-audit-on-group-based-child-sexual-exploitation-and-abuse-terms-of-reference/national-audit-on-group-based-child-sexual-exploitation-and-abuse-terms-of-reference).

The report will provide recommendations on what further local, regional or national work may be necessary, and it will be made publicly available by the Home Secretary in due course.