Oral Answers to Questions

Christine Jardine Excerpts

Wednesday 4th February 2026 Commons Chamber

[Liz Kendall]

We are creating new jobs, with 15,000 from our AI growth zones alone. Culture Secretary and I deeply understand the need to resolve the issues around AI and copyright. That is why we have been meeting the creative sector and those from the AI industry so that we find a way forward that works for both our world-leading creatives and our world-leading AI entrepreneurs.

[Christine Jardine (Edinburgh West) (LD)]

2. What discussions she has had with stakeholders on teenagers’ use of social media.

[The Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology (Liz Kendall)]

I have spoken to a range of individuals and organisations about teenagers’ use of social media. Last month, I met families who have suffered unimaginable tragedy as a result of their children’s experiences online. In April, my Department will co-host an event with the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children on AI’s impact on children. I have spoken to parents, teachers and young people, including in my constituency, and there will be much more to come through our consultation. There are different opinions about how best to keep children safe online, but we will take further action, and swiftly.

[Christine Jardine]

In Australia, the Government are playing a game of whack-a-mole as they struggle to keep up with young people switching between social media sites and new apps that have just been brought on board. I have spoken to people in the industry here and to parents who say that a blanket ban is not working. Will the Government consider a more varied approach, along the lines that the Liberal Democrats have suggested, with a licensing scheme based on certification for cinema screens?

[Liz Kendall]

I would say that it is early days in Australia, and we also know the action that France and Spain will be taking. I do not know whether the hon. Lady was present during my statement last week, when I set out that we will consult on a range of different options, including a ban on social media for the under-16s, raising the digital age of consent, overnight curfews and stronger age verification measures. We want to get this right and to work with parents, teenagers, and industry, but we will take further action to give children the childhood that they deserve and prepare them for the future.

--- Later in debate ---

[The Prime Minister]

I thank the commanding officer and crew of HMS Duncan for their service, and I also thank my hon. Friend. I remember meeting the brilliant workforce in his region, and I know that the Defence Ministers will be delighted to do the same. Our record defence spending is supporting jobs and growth across the north-east. We invested £200 million in Octric Semiconductors in his constituency last year. As we increase defence spending, the north-east will play a major role, securing good, skilled jobs for generations to come.

[Christine Jardine (Edinburgh West) (LD)]

Q13. I associate myself with the comments of my party leader about Lord Wallace, a man whom I was privileged to know. Conversations are taking place in the Chamber today and up and down the country about Peter Mandelson and his involvement with the paedophile who trafficked women. Given that millions of women, particularly in this country, will be triggered by that and given the establishment’s proximity to what happened, will the Prime Minister assure us that helplines will be set up and that we will support the direct victims as well as those women who indirectly will be triggered?

[The Prime Minister]

The hon. Member is right to raise that. Obviously, we will support the police with their investigation, but we will also press on with our work to halve violence against women and girls, which is very much about putting in place the support that is needed for all victims of violence. That is a crucial part of our work and I hope that we can work across the House in support of that.