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WQ.241/2025
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
BY DEPUTY K.M. WILSON OF ST. CLEMENT
QUESTION SUBMITTED ON MONDAY 19th MAY 2025
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 27th MAY 2025
Question
"Will the Minister advise what actions, if any, his team is taking to protect children and young people from online harm and advise whether he and the Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning are working together on this issue; and if so, will he detail any agreed priorities and the timescale for delivering relevant policy and legislation decisions on this matter?"
Answer
The Deputy may be aware that I recently attended a public hearing with the Children, Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel, on Friday 23 May, to discuss this subject. As explained during this hearing (link to video), I am working collaboratively with the Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning, as well as the Minister for Justice & Home Affairs and the Minister for Sustainable Economic Development, and their respective Departments, to ensure that a coordinated cross government approach is secured to keeping children safe from the risk of online harms.
There are some key challenges that both the Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning and I share in this policy area, which include.
• All settings including schools, youth clubs and children's residential homes have the most robust digital platforms that can protect children from risks of online harms.
• Ensuring staff are supported by an up-to-date policy that gives clear guidance. An updated operational policy and guidance is scheduled for publication later this year.
• Children and Young People have a voice and are listened to when arrangements to safeguard children are being put in place. There is a school council network meeting scheduled for November 2025 which will have e-safety as its key theme. The Joint Office of the Information Commissioner will also be supporting this event.
• Parents are signposted to credible and websites containing practical advice and guidance on how they can support their children to stay safe online.
The combination of practical support for parents, aligned operational procedures, and an open dialogue with children themselves will complement the broader legislative changes currently being developed by the Minister for Sustainable Economic Development. As part of this work, the Minister is also considering changes to the Data Protection framework to improve provisions for internet users to request the removal of images from online platforms.
As mentioned during his public hearing with the Children, Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel on Friday 16 May (link to video; link to transcript), the timeline for the progression of this work is currently under consideration.