Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Ashley Fox Excerpts

Wednesday 15th April 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Ashley Fox (Bridgwater) (Con)]

Will the Minister give way?

[Olivia Bailey]

Very briefly, and then I will make progress.

[Sir Ashley Fox]

The Minister has said that she wishes to take swift action. Surely the swiftest action she could take is to use this Bill to ban smartphones from schools, and to ban children under 16 from using social media. What extra information does she need to take those steps?

[Olivia Bailey]

If the hon. Member will forgive me, I will address smartphones in schools in a moment. Our consultation allows us to act at real speed. Through the additions we are making to the Bill today, we are committing to report back to the House within six months, if we have not acted before then. The range of options that we are considering in the consultation is significantly wider than the options in the amendments from the other place that we are debating. The consultation will allow us to address a much wider range of issues, including critical ones, such as addictive design.