Mobile Phones and Social Media: Use by Children

Graham Stuart Excerpts

Tuesday 20th January 2026 Commons Chamber

[Liz Kendall]

I thank my hon. Friend for his question. I have said repeatedly in this House that we need to do the right and responsible thing, which is to consult. I do not want to hang around. I want to work out the very best and effective way forward, and I want proposals that will hold and last.

[Graham Stuart (Beverley and Holderness) (Con)]

In meaningful consultations, the Government set out what they are minded to do and set out a model. This consultation does not define social media or set out an enforcement model. It does not say anything about how age verification should be done. If they do not set out their model and what they intend to do, how at the end of the consultation will they have a practical guide or model to implement? They will not. If we are to follow this up with another consultation, I fear that parents and grandparents in Beverley and Holderness will be deeply disappointed with the dithering and delay displayed by the Secretary of State today.

[Liz Kendall]

The right hon. Gentleman knows that this is a statement, not the publication of the consultation. I very much look forward to his views when it is published.