Shirley-Anne Somerville
Scottish National Party · Scotland
“Laura Moodie: Does the cabinet secretary recognise the distress that is being caused to constituents, including a disabled veteran in my region, by the continued uncertainty around the scheme?”
“The Scottish Government has been working closely with Motability since March, and its notification of changes from 1 July in England, Wales and Northern Ireland—the 1 July commencement—is not set to apply in Scotland.”
“The Scottish Government is committed to working with East Lothian Council and private partners to unlock investment and growth at the strategic site at Blindwells, and we are providing £2.4 million of funding flexibility to support the development of the outline business case.”
“What reassurances can investors be given that the Scottish Government will work with them to deliver the project? Shirley-Anne Somerville: As I mentioned in my original answer, my ministerial colleagues and I recognise the strategic importance of Blindwells not just to housing but to the East Lothian economy.”
“Motability will continue to work with the Scottish Government to see what can be done, because it also recognises the distress and inconvenience that the situation is causing.”
“She said that she did not want to call out only Reform. Will she call out Alex Cole-Hamilton for mentioning the Third Reich or Daniel Johnson for making insinuations about fascism?”
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“The cuts to universal credit are still in place, and it removed the two-child limit only when it was eventually shamed into it. The First Minister has made it clear to disabled people’s organisations that we will not move away from our system, which is based on dignity, fairness and respect, and we should rightly be proud of that. Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (Aberdeen) 4.”
“Does the cabinet secretary agree that that stands in stark contrast to the approach of the United Kingdom Labour Government, which has retained the toxic Department for Work and Pensions culture that it inherited from the Tories, proving that, for disabled people, the only thing that changed at Westminster was the colour of the rosette? The Deputy Presiding Officer: I call the cabinet secretary to respond on matters within her responsibilities. Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Scottish Government is exceptionally proud that the values of dignity, fairness and respect were built into the social security system by my colleague Jeane Freeman. Rona Mackay has elaborated on exactly what a Labour Government does when it is in power. It cuts the level of fuel payments for pensioners and cuts benefits for disabled people.”
“Social Security Scotland is committed to inclusive communication so that people with diverse communication needs, such as people with aphasia, can apply for adult disability payment in a way that is accessible to them. People can apply online, by post, over the phone or through face-to-face contact with local delivery staff, who can support people practically with the application process. The agency also funds independent advocacy services, which support people through the application process. The Scottish Government’s positive and compassionate approach ensures that access to adult disability payment is as straightforward as possible, so that more disabled people can get the support to which they are entitled. Rona Mackay: In Strathkelvin and Bearsden, my constituents value the dignity that has been built into Scotland’s system.”
“The Government also recently ran the “We are Scotland” campaign to say how important it is that we stick together on the matter and not be divided.”
“Shirley-Anne Somerville: I thank Mark Ruskell for asking that important question, which once again gives the Parliament—with, I hope, full support around the chamber—the opportunity to say that, yes, people have a right to peaceful protest and to freedom of expression, but nothing should happen to anyone living in any of our communities that spreads fear and alarm. Unfortunately, we are seeing more of that. The Government can take, and is taking, action on the matter, despite the fact that asylum is a reserved matter. The Minister for Equalities, Kaukab Stewart, has done a great deal of work with communities and has increased the funding for community cohesion work. That funds grass- roots organisations to do exactly the type of work that Mark Ruskell mentioned, which is exceptionally important.”
“It is important that we recognise that there has been an increase in racist hate crimes in the past year and that far-right groups are using the protests to intimidate marginalised people. Although buffer zones around accommodation could provide increased protection from fear and intimidation, that approach alone would not tackle the harmful rhetoric, scapegoating or false narratives being placed on people who are trapped in the asylum system. Communities have gathered and organised to put on counter-protests and rallies in Perth that show clear solidarity and a refusal to allow people to be demonised and attacked. Beyond buffer zones, what action will the Scottish Government take to tackle the divisive messaging, build on that community solidarity and fight the far right?”
“Everyone should be able to feel safe and secure in the place where they live. The United Kingdom Government is responsible for providing all asylum accommodation, including hotels. That includes security and support for people who are seeking asylum. I am deeply concerned that the protests outside asylum accommodation are creating significant fear and alarm. The right to peaceful public assembly and freedom of expression should never be used to justify any form of hateful, violent or otherwise criminal behaviour. We fully support Police Scotland taking appropriate action in response to criminal offences being committed at, or around, such protests. Mark Ruskell: I warmly thank the cabinet secretary for that answer.”
“We never hear about where the Tories would make cuts, but it is inevitable that they would have to be made in order to decrease the budget. In addition, £1 billion of cuts in public expenditure would need to be made if the Tory tax cuts were introduced. Once again, we have had no coherence from the Tories in relation to their budget proposals. We have had more headlines— that is all. The Deputy Presiding Officer: That concludes portfolio question time. There will be a brief pause before we move on to the next item of business to allow front-bench teams to change over. Wellbeing and Sustainable Development (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1”
“Shirley-Anne Somerville: Of course we encourage and support people to get into work— that is exactly why funding for employability packages is included in the budget. I can tell Rachael Hamilton that the funding that we expect to receive through the social security block grant adjustments now covers about 87 per cent of the forecast expenditure in 2026-27. It is important to stress once again that, if Rachael Hamilton wants to cut the social security budget, she needs to say from whom she would take funding away. Is she planning to take it away from older people of pensionable age who receive disability benefits, whom the previous question was about, or people on low incomes who receive the Scottish child payment?”
“Rachael Hamilton: The Scottish National Party’s most recent budget increases the benefits bill by a further £650 million, while the rural affairs portfolio, for example, faces a real-terms cut of £40 million. Social security spending is projected to rise to more than £9 billion by 2029. It is clear that that trajectory is unsustainable. Given that just under a million working-age people are economically active and that 100,000 people are unemployed, rather than continuing to allocate huge sums of taxpayers’ money to a spiralling benefits bill, will the cabinet secretary commit to funding measures that give, and restore, dignity and pride to people by getting Scotland working again?”
“Through the investment of £7.2 billion in social security assistance in 2026-27, the budget will deliver essential continued support for low-income families and unpaid carers, help older people to heat their homes and enable disabled people to live independent lives. As a result of deliberate policy choices, the budget increases the total spending on devolved social security and maintains the value of all benefits by uprating them in line with inflation. On top of that, it lays the groundwork to raise our transformational Scottish child payment even further, to £40 per week for every eligible child aged under one, during 2027-28. That will benefit the families of 12,000 children, and it reaffirms the Government’s commitment to the eradication of child poverty.”
“Ensuring that older people receive the support that they are entitled to, by providing access to financial assistance such as the pension-age disability payment, makes a real difference. I am proud to confirm that the Government has committed £926 million in the 2026-27 budget to safeguard the delivery of that vital support. I join Marie McNair in congratulating the Clydebank Asbestos Group—which was founded by David Colraine and supported by his wife, Jean—and the retired members branch of Unite for their valuable, long-standing and exceptional work in helping people to secure the support that they deserve and are entitled to. Social Security (Budget 2026-27) 8.”
“Marie McNair: Despite the Labour and Tory attacks on our social security budget, it is clear that the pension-age disability payment is making a difference to those of pension age with a disability in Scotland. Take-up of the payment must be encouraged. Will the cabinet secretary join me in praising the work of the Clydebank Asbestos Group in my constituency? In a joint project with the retired members branch of Unite the Union, that group has put more than £800,000 in pension-age disability payments and benefits into the pockets of the pensioners in greatest need. Shirley-Anne Somerville: Scotland is the only country in the United Kingdom that has a benefits take-up strategy. The Scottish Government is proud of the fact that we encourage people to apply for what they are entitled to.”
“The Scottish Government is committed to increasing the take- up of pension-age disability payment. In September 2025, Social Security Scotland promoted the benefit through a marketing campaign that ran across television, radio and digital media, with stakeholder events held and materials provided in community spaces. That generated a 140 per cent increase in the number of visits to the application web page and a 78 per cent rise in the number of application starts. The promotion continues across social media and through partnership work with, for example, Age Scotland, local authorities, the national health service and community groups. Accessible application routes encourage uptake among older people nationwide and ensure that tailored assistance is available across Scotland.”
“The Government is alive to the issue, which is exactly why, alongside the work that is set out in the cash- first plan, we are doing wider work on child poverty that looks at the types of drivers of poverty and what we can do to take away some of those challenges.”
“Will the cabinet secretary confirm whether local access to nutritious food, levels of food and cooking skills are routinely monitored? If they are not, will she consider putting such monitoring in place, in order to better inform future policy decisions? Shirley-Anne Somerville: In a number of our funding streams, an aspect that we look at is how we can support local communities with what they deem to be their priorities. Some of those priorities will relate to access to healthy food or skills for cooking healthy food. Those priorities are best served by the funding streams being open to local community groups and by community groups making bids for funding if they feel that that is the most important way to deal with the issue.”
“No one should have to compromise on food or other essentials. That is why Scotland was the first nation in the United Kingdom to publish a cash-first plan to work towards ending the need for food banks. Food insecurity is caused by insecure or insufficient income. Building on the on-going investment of more than £3 billion per year in policies that tackle poverty and the cost of living crisis, in 2026-27 we will continue to offer the most comprehensive cost of living support package in the UK, providing vital support for those who face cost of living pressures and strengthening our public services. Maurice Golden: Although debt is clearly a significant driver of food insecurity, access to affordable, healthy food and the skills to prepare it are also critical factors.”
“In relation to his question, analysis published by the Scottish Government in July 2024 concluded that the payment is not negatively affecting labour market outcomes at scale at its current rates. Research by the London School of Economics found that there is no evidence that it creates meaningful work disincentives. Research published by the Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion concludes that “the evidence suggests that concerns that the SCP creates work disincentives are overplayed.” Many people who receive the Scottish child payment are in work, and the payment is an important way in which we can impact both those who are in work and those who are out of work. I hope that, now that I have detailed the research and evidence, Mr Kerr will accept that and move on.”
“Yesterday, at the Economy and Fair Work Committee, the Deputy First Minister acknowledged concerns about the cliff-edge nature of the Scottish child payment. There is growing evidence that people are reluctant to take on extra hours, overtime, promotion or better-paid work because doing so can push them over the threshold and lead to them losing their benefits. That reluctance is entirely understandable, but it amounts to a benefits trap. Given that we know that the most effective route out of poverty is good work, what steps is the Government taking to remove that cliff edge, so that work, progression and higher earnings are incentivised rather than penalised? Shirley-Anne Somerville: I am sorry if Mr Kerr is not interested in the number of children who have been lifted out of poverty by the Scottish child payment.”
“Social Security Scotland does not publish figures on why people stop receiving the Scottish child payment. However, statistics show that the payment continues to provide vital and stable support to low-income families across Scotland. The Scottish Government remains firmly committed to tackling child poverty, and the Scottish child payment provides direct support to families that need it most. Take-up is exceptionally high, at an estimated 94 per cent in 2024-25, and the latest statistics show that the families of more than 322,000 children across Scotland are benefiting from that support. Stephen Kerr: I did not ask about anything in that very long answer. What is clear is that the Government does not know or, if it does know, is not prepared to say.”
“Only this morning I heard from mums in Pilton about the difference that the Scottish child payment makes and how they think that the premium will make even more of a difference. As Save the Children Scotland has said, “Investing in the tiniest members of our society ... is how we sow the seeds of a brighter future.” First Minister’s Question Time Scottish Budget 1.”
“I particularly welcome the boost to the Scottish child payment, raising it to £40 for families with a baby from 2027, which the United Nations Children’s Fund— UNICEF—has welcomed. Save the Children Scotland has said that it is a “bold action” and that “This is a moment of hope for families, and for all of us.” Will the cabinet secretary say what analysis the Government has undertaken of the impact of the policy on child poverty? Shirley-Anne Somerville: The new premium will undoubtedly assist and deliver increased support for families with children under the age of one. The Scottish Fiscal Commission estimates that around 12,000 children will receive that increased support when the payment begins, in the financial year 2027-28. That support will make a real difference.”
“Eradicating child poverty is at the heart of the Scottish budget and the Scottish spending review, which outlines how we will drive continued progress. That includes developing the systems and legislation to increase the Scottish child payment to £40 for children under one year old. We are also investing more than £100 million across the spending review to support the delivery of a universal breakfast club offer for primary school-aged children, alongside increased investment in wraparound activity clubs. Through an annual £50 million package of whole- family support, we will ensure that families receive the support they need when they need it. Bill Kidd: I welcome the Government’s commitment to putting the best cost of living support package anywhere in the United Kingdom front and centre of its approach.”
“We have also paid the child winter heating payment to children on the highest rates of disability payments. The package that we have in Scotland is stronger and more robust than anywhere else in the UK. Payment began in November, and it is moving through the winter months according to the timetable that was set out previously. We are on track to deliver it this winter. Caithness Maternity Services (Independent Review) 3.”
“Now, more than six weeks after St Andrew’s day, and well into the winter weather, there are still people wondering where those payments are. Will the cabinet secretary advise why it has taken so long for a payment to be made and when those who are still waiting for payments will receive them? Will the Scottish Government apologise to all those pensioners who were promised payment in November but did not receive it? Shirley-Anne Somerville: Just as the Scottish Government laid out, the payments began in November and will continue through the winter. We have also ensured that the winter heating payment, which goes to pensioners on low incomes, is being paid throughout the winter; that payment is not guaranteed anywhere else in the UK but in Scotland.”
“Pension-age winter heating payment will support at least 880,000 pensioners with heating bills this winter. The United Kingdom Government’s 2024 decision to cut winter heating payment was a betrayal of millions of pensioners. Although the belated U-turn was welcome, costs are rising, and many people will struggle with household bills this winter. That is why the Scottish Government is taking action and will deliver the strongest package of winter support compared with anywhere else in the UK. By 14 December 2025, £124.9 million was paid through more than 837,000 winter heating payments, with updated figures due on 4 February. Claire Baker: That means that around 300,000 people have not yet received their payments. The First Minister promised that they would receive them by St Andrew’s day.”
“Shirley-Anne Somerville: —for those who have experienced or are experiencing domestic abuse, who are primarily women, as suggested by Ruth Maguire. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (Support) 7.”
“I hope that I can reassure Ruth Maguire, at least in part, by pointing to the Scottish Government’s funding for Citizens Advice Scotland’s council tax debt project, which extends right across Scotland, to improve access to services for people who are struggling with council tax debt, provide wider, more holistic support and ensure best practice by councils. There is also the financially included project, which responds to economic abuse and includes a national helpline that my colleague Màiri McAllan launched officially yesterday. The Housing (Scotland) Act 2025 also places a duty on Scottish ministers to undertake within one year a review of the impact of joint and several liability for council tax arrears— The Presiding Officer: Briefly, cabinet secretary.”
“Will the Scottish Government consider reforming council tax joint liability rules, for example, so that women who are fleeing abuse are not automatically made responsible for debts that have been accrued by their abusers, to protect victims/survivors from debts that result from financial abuse and coercion? Shirley-Anne Somerville: I recognise the challenge that many women face when they are faced with domestic and coercive abuse of that kind. The Aberlour report shines a light on that important issue, and the Government is taking action, but we are always keen to see what more we can do through the child poverty delivery plan.”
“Ruth Maguire: It is well understood that domestic abuse can entail financial abuse, including coerced debt, and that single parents are around three times more likely to have experienced domestic abuse. Unfortunately, public debt processes too often do not reflect that knowledge and understanding, and they can perpetuate the impact of financial abuse and coerced debt. The excellent report by Professor Morag Treanor for Aberlour Children’s Charity, One Parent Families Scotland and the Trussell Trust recognises that the issue requires action from all spheres of government.”
“The Scottish Government recognises the impact of debt on families, particularly women, and it encourages all public bodies to share good practice on debt collection. Our approach includes having a social security system that is underpinned by the values of dignity, fairness and respect. We have committed to exploring further pilot activity on gender budget tagging for the 2026-27 budget, building on the work that was done last year with the Organisation for Economic Co- operation and Development. We are consulting a range of stakeholders on the development of our final tackling child poverty delivery plan, including the National Advisory Council on Women and Girls, to ensure that the plan tackles gender inequalities.”
“Yesterday, I was delighted to talk to carers in Hamilton about the improvements in support from March 2026, as part of which those with multiple caring roles who receive carer support payment can be paid an extra £520 per year for every additional cared-for person through the carers additional person payment. Again, that is available only in Scotland, and it will provide extra support to around 18,000 carers in the next financial year. Moreover, from March 2026, carers will receive four more weeks of support when a caring role ends due to a bereavement, which will provide more stability at what is a very difficult time. Neonatal Wards (Overnight Beds) 5.”
“James Dornan: Given that more than 96,000 carers were due that payment from 4 December, and recognising the significant contribution that unpaid carers make to our communities, will the cabinet secretary outline what further steps the Government is taking to widen support, particularly in light of the recent expansion of eligibility for the young carer grant? What advice is available to any carer who has not received their letter or payment by 15 December? Shirley-Anne Somerville: As I said in my original answer, those who have not received their payment by 15 December should contact the agency for further details. Mr Dornan is quite right to point to the extended eligibility for the young carers grant, which, of course, is available only in Scotland and eligibility for which has been extended to the age of 19.”
“Social Security Scotland will pay an extra £293.50 to more than 96,000 unpaid carers from 4 December. Since its introduction in 2018, the carers allowance supplement has provided more than 1 million payments, delivering hundreds of millions of pounds to help to ease financial pressures and improve wellbeing. The vast majority of carers receive the payment automatically, but anyone who has not received it by 15 December should contact Social Security Scotland. This year, eligible carers in Scotland will be £587 better off than those elsewhere in the UK, recognising the essential contribution that they make to communities right across the country.”
“That is why it is so remarkable and, quite frankly, grotesque to hear politicians still championing the two-child limit, despite the fact that it was condemning 20,000 children in Scotland to unnecessary additional hardship.”
“We have just heard the Scottish Conservatives set out an apparent repudiation of the benefits system that this Parliament voted for unanimously, and which I am proud that we have established. The Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 was unequivocal in enshrining in statute the principle that social security is an essential investment in the people of Scotland, based on dignity, fairness and respect. It is a safety net for us all, because we may all need it at some point in our lives. Like Mr Stewart, I am unwavering in those principles, which are even more important today than they were seven years ago, particularly because of the cost of living crisis that was brought on by Brexit. I am also unwavering, as is the First Minister, on this Government’s commitment to eradicate child poverty.”
“Our motion also speaks about the UK Government’s decision to remove the two-child limit. In the coming years, that decision will cost UK taxpayers at least £2 billion extra, which will put a strain on our public services. In the current climate, that is not the right priority for the UK or Scottish Governments, and we cannot support the decision. The SNP had already set aside £155 million, which could have been spent elsewhere, to remove the cap in Scotland. How long has it been since we have seen that across the UK? I hope that £155 million will be used to support hard- working families and taxpayers. However, the First Minister has already confirmed that the extra money will be added straight back on to Scotland’s benefits bill.”
“The ADP’s light-touch review system might be one of the biggest drivers of this increase in cost compared with the personal independence payment system in the UK. The current review system allows claimants to self- declare that their circumstances have not changed. All they need to do is tick a box on a form, so it is hardly surprising that the Auditor General concluded that “Social Security Scotland does not have a reliable figure for the amount lost to fraud and error”. A recent freedom of information request revealed that Social Security Scotland had reported only 29 cases of fraud since 2023-24. That is compared with the thousands of cases that are likely to have happened. If the SNP is at all serious about addressing spiralling benefit costs, it must look at its naive approach to fraud and error.”
“Can the member tell the chamber whether the Scottish Conservatives voted for or against all of the secondary legislation that built in the eligibility for ADP, which he is about to criticise? Alexander Stewart: I think that you will find that the Conservatives did vote for it, but you have to understand that your light-touch approach, which I will come on to speak about later— The Deputy Presiding Officer: Always speak through the chair. Alexander Stewart: We will speak about that light-touch approach and we can discuss the number of people who, as part of the benefits process, have been receiving funds in error or due to fraud. As I said, it is expected that, by 2029-30, ADP will cost £770 million more than the equivalent UK benefit would have done.”
“I move, That the Parliament unites in its commitment to 2025’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign; warns that digital violence is the fastest growing form of abuse against women and girls worldwide; highlights the UN Women campaign, “UNiTE to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls”, which reminds everyone that digital safety is central to gender equality; recognises that protecting women and girls online will take concerted societal action from all spheres of government, tech companies, organisations, institutions and individuals, and commits to strengthening efforts to prevent violence against women and girls across all sectors and in all its forms. 15:04”
“As I said at the beginning of my remarks, it is important for legislators and Governments to face up to the challenges of the technological changes that our society faces. Those are difficult. Often, perhaps, we are criticised as Parliaments and Governments for acting too slowly, for implementing too slowly or for reflecting on a debate that has already passed in a society that has moved on to other things. It is a challenge that we will all need to rise to, next session.”
“That is why we have established a violence against women and girls digital inclusion network, which is made up of specialist violence against women and girls services, the Mhor Collective and others, to consider how we can improve access to information and advice for survivors of technology- facilitated violence against women and girls. I will end my opening remarks by paying tribute to the extraordinary work of violence against women services across Scotland. Those support services are life saving, but it is not just in the vital area of direct support and advocacy that they are making a difference; extraordinary work is being done to raise awareness, to educate and to prevent violence before it begins. To each and every one of them, I give my thanks.”
“We are delighted to have been able to support the first stage of that work, to help teachers and learners with skills to tackle the issue. The online world is not always negative. The digital space offers opportunities for services and survivors. Those who work with survivors of abuse have told us that digital delivery is an integral part of the support that they offer. That is particularly the case for organisations that support younger women, enabling increased access to choice and, in certain circumstances, expanding offers of support. That includes video calls and apps for one-to-one and group support and counselling, as well as online chat as a helpline option. QR codes can enable discreet access to information, whereas picking up a leaflet would immediately identify the woman as a possible victim.”
“To demonstrate how successful campaign work can be, it is worth reflecting on last year’s sextortion campaign, which was developed with Police Scotland and the Crimestoppers youth service, fearless. It is believed to be a key factor in the 2023-24 32.2 per cent decrease in reports to Police Scotland of sextortion. Our schools framework on preventing and responding to gender-based violence is clear about the need to create a positive, safe school culture. We are also committed to supporting Time for Inclusive Education’s new digital discourse initiative, which helps schools to equip children and young people with the skills to navigate the digital media and counters the impacts of disinformation and online hate.”
“In order to end violence and discrimination against women and girls, men and boys must be seen as much more than part of the problem; they have to be integral to the solution. Research indicates that a rise in misogynistic content in digital echo chambers presents particular challenges for secondary school-aged young people. We are, therefore, in the process of co- creating a campaign with young people. Co- creation is critical to developing credible and effective messaging that reflects young people’s lived digital experiences and understanding of misogyny. I thank the young people and the third sector experts who continue to work with us to shape the campaign, and I look forward to updating the Parliament ahead of the proposed launch date in February 2026.”
“Of course, we have already enacted criminal law to tackle people who share or threaten to share deepfake, intimate or pornographic images of another person without their consent. Through the UK Government, we are informing the developing Council of Europe instrument and recommendations in relation to combating technology-facilitated violence against women and girls. In recognition of the significant and wide-ranging risk of harm, the First Minister established the online safety task force—with joint ministerial leadership from the Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise and the Minister for Victims and Community Safety—to provide oversight and direction across the Scottish Government. It is reviewing current activity and considering priorities for action within the devolved powers that are available to the Scottish Government.”
“The First Minister, the Minister for Victims and Community Safety and the Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise have all written to tech companies about the need to take meaningful and tangible action to tackle online harms, and we will continue to press that point. Within devolved powers, the Scottish Government is proposing to consult on potential new criminal law and associated measures to tackle online harm. That is in response to growing concerns about the effectiveness of existing legislation and the ability to make progress through the justice system. The consultation will seek views on proposals to create a new offence to criminalise the non-consensual creation of deepfake images. That is due to the growth of apps that enable people to create deepfake pornographic images of another person.”
“In January this year, the Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise and the Minister for Victims and Community Safety wrote to UK ministers inviting further co-operation between the Governments on online safety, particularly in relation to protecting children and young people, and urged further legislative action. We will continue to work with the UK Government to do all that we can to protect our citizens from online harm. In October, ministers met Jess Phillips, the UK Minister for Safeguarding and Violence against Women and Girls, to discuss our shared aims of protecting children and young people from online harms and tackling violence against women and girls.”
“I note that the guidance that Ofcom published at the start of this year’s 16 days campaign includes a range of practical safety measures that the regulator is urging tech firms to adopt to tackle those harms, and in the Parliament today, I urge tech companies to take immediate action in line with the guidance. Indeed, I urge them to go above and beyond what is needed to comply with their legal duties under the Online Safety Act 2023. We need to be ambitious in the standards that we set for women’s and girls’ online safety, and I know that many campaigners are concerned that the guidance does not go far enough. Internet services are reserved. This Government has worked with the United Kingdom Government to get the 2023 act amended and strengthened, but we are clear that we must continue to press for further protections.”
“Social media platforms are fuelling hatred against women, with algorithms, data sets, systems and search engines delivering sexist, sexualised and abusive content even to those who are not actively seeking it. They often promote harmful messages that equate masculinity with dominance over women, emotional suppression and aggressive behaviour. If we do not find an effective way to regulate now, those systemic biases will become further entrenched. We are storing up problems for the future. There are no easy answers for any legislature, any Government or society as a whole. The speed of change can feel alarming, but together we have to find a way.”