I thank the Minister for that response. For 100 years and more, skilled workers in the north-east have relied on high-paid energy jobs, be they in coal, gas or oil in mines, factories, ports and rigs. Labour's clean power mission can bring new jobs to existing supply chains, but companies and workers need help to transition. Will the Minister tell me how she plans to future-proof the north-east's energy supply chain and deliver secure, well-paid and unionised jobs?

What steps are being taken to support the green energy sector in the north-east?

One year ago, Meta, TikTok, X, and Google all confirmed to my Committee that they hold themselves accountable to the British people through Parliament, and before Easter we will revisit the findings of our social media and algorithms inquiry in an evidence session with them. I mention that because it is clear that Governments across the world are urgently seeking ways to make tech platforms more accountable. As the Secretary of State consults on children and social media, will she confirm that any eventual ban should be in addition to and not instead of more effective regulation of those powerful platforms?

Does the Minister agree with the OBR that the bursting of the AI bubble presents a significant downside risk to the UK economy? What steps are his Department and UKRI taking to protect their investment in innovative companies that would undoubtedly be affected by an AI market correction?

My constituents expect me to spend my time addressing their issues rather than managing an inbox flooded with lobbyist spam and bots from Russia and China. Microsoft Copilot offers help in writing emails but does not address inbox management issues despite repeated requests. Can the House confirm whether we are paying for this functionality that is not being used, and when will solutions be provided to address MPs' actual needs?

The north-east is a vital hub for clean energy supply chains, and my constituents in oil and gas want to be part of that transition, but years of under-investment by the Tories mean that many North sea ports cannot host modern turbine manufacturing. As the Government prepare their plan for the future of the north-east, will the Minister consider infrastructure investment to enable communities and workers in the north-east to better benefit from clean energy jobs?

The Minister says that the Government are looking deeply into this issue, but as part of my Committee’s inquiry into misinformation and algorithms, we heard conflicting evidence from Ministers and Ofcom as to whether generative artificial intelligence is covered by the Online Safety Act. The Government have refused to implement our call for legislation to bring generative AI under the same categorisation as other high-risk services. Under what circumstances is chatbot advice covered by the Online Safety Act, and will there be enforcement?

Under 14 years of Tory misrule, workers in the north-east saw their average annual earnings fall, causing a cost of living crisis for families across the region. We have fantastic, passionate and productive workers. Will the Minister promise to continue to turn back on Tory failure by investing in the industry of the north-east to deliver high-wage, high-quality jobs as part of a Budget for working people?

I thank the outgoing ministerial team for their engagement as I congratulate the new team on succeeding to this important and inspiring brief. The Government are committed to transforming public services through the adoption of new technologies. At the June spending review, Departments published their plans to deploy technologies to achieve efficiencies, but we are yet to see the detailed and fully funded road map for delivery promised by DSIT for this summer. Will the Secretary of State commit to publishing a road map that sets out what will be delivered, who will deliver it and by when, and how much it will cost, before her appearance before my Committee as part of our digital centre of government inquiry in November?

The Select Committee report on social media algorithms raised concerns that US trade negotiations might prevent UK from responding to recommendations. Can the Minister reassure us that this is not true?

Artificial intelligence is prevalent in both the workplace and schools. How are we ensuring that AI tools used in our education system support learning that fosters productive use of these technologies, alongside developing the unique potential of each individual student? Furthermore, what advice has been given to the Department for Education regarding the procurement of edtech tools, considering some are free while others require payment?

Residents in Westerhope told me how nuisance vehicles are making their lives miserable, and I have had similar complaints from residents in Slatyford and Newbiggin. Given that police forces are already working hard but need more enforcement powers, will the Minister set out how her new proposals under the Crime and Policing Bill will improve this situation?

I really welcome the US-UK trade deal and the fact that the Secretary of State kept his commitment not to put online safety on the table in those negotiations. My Committee’s inquiry into social media misinformation and algorithms has heard evidence that these drive the spread of misinformation, with consequences seen in summer riots. Will he confirm that as well as not watering down existing regulations under the Online Safety Act, efforts will be made to strengthen it?

Does the Online Safety Act 2023 give Ofcom the powers to address these harms before they reach the threshold of illegality, and if so, how?

Since the Hamas atrocities of 7 October, tens of thousands of Gazans have been killed by Israeli forces, and hundreds of thousands more have been subject to unimaginable suffering. It is essential that their stories be told and it is unacceptable that the BBC should have chosen to tell them through those connected to Hamas. We understand that the BBC is not allowed into Gaza, so will the Secretary of State confirm where this programme was subcontracted and to whom? On the issue of translation, does the BBC not have a translation guide? Is that publicly available? If not, should it be? Finally, when Israeli Ministers and others call for the ethnic cleansing of Gaza or for the elimination of the Palestinian people, surely that must be reported in a way that highlights that that is illegal and the cause of immense distress to many in this country?

Newcastle’s beautiful cathedral is an important part of our economic life, as well as our cultural and religious life, but it receives very little funding from the Church of England and does not benefit from any significant endowments or property ownership, unlike other cathedrals. With 80% of England’s cathedrals predicted to post budget deficits, what discussions has the Second Church Estates Commissioner had with the Church of England regarding the financial sustainability of cathedrals?

What was the reason for the Government’s failure to sign the Paris AI summit declaration, given concerns about progress on global governance and national security?

My living wage intern starts next week, just as a Sutton Trust report shows that internships are critical entry points to careers, but that working-class graduates are 20% less likely to complete an internship than their wealthier peers and most internships are never advertised. What is my right hon. Friend doing to ensure that career success is based on hard work and talent, not parents’ social networks?

I pay tribute to my ecclesiastical co-worker, the Right Reverend Helen-Ann Hartley, Bishop of Newcastle, for her leadership and courage in championing the voices of victims in the wake of the Makin review. Are the Church Commissioners aware of her ongoing concerns about the implementation of the review? In particular, what can they do to ensure that dioceses have the resources necessary to implement a high standard of safeguarding?

Last month, the Select Committee brought festive cheer by hearing how British science is advancing the eradication of diseases such as cervical cancer, HIV/AIDS and malaria, through innovative and exciting new treatments and diagnostics. We also heard about the challenges of driving innovation through the NHS. Newcastle company AMLo Biosciences said that adoption is much quicker in the US, and others criticised bureaucratic procurement processes and a culture of inertia. Successive Governments have struggled with this challenge, so what specific steps is the Secretary of State taking with the Health Secretary to ensure that British patients benefit from innovation?

Last week, research published by Sage showed that 84% of small businesses in the north-east plan to increase their investment in technology next year. As the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee launches its inquiry into innovation, growth and the regions, how will the Business Secretary ensure that the industrial strategy boosts adoption of technology—particularly British-developed technology—to boost growth across all our regions?

I am concerned that an uplift to the funding announced under the previous Government for the restoration of the Tyne Bridge has not materialised. Inflation and issues uncovered during the project have led to a rise in costs. Could you confirm if the difficult decisions this Government has made mean that the uplift in funding will be available for the fully restored Tyne bridge?

I am concerned that an uplift to the funding announced under the previous Government for the restoration of the Tyne Bridge has not materialised. Inflation and issues uncovered during the project have led to a rise in costs. Could you confirm if the difficult decisions this Government has made mean that the uplift in funding will be available for the fully restored Tyne bridge?

My hon. Friend the Member for Folkestone and Hythe (Tony Vaughan) rightly raises the need for research into frontier AI safety, and I welcome the Government's commitment to protecting the public from future AI risks. But AI affects all of our lives already. Today, my Committee launches an inquiry into algorithms, AI and their role in spreading online harm, as we saw in the terrible riots over the summer. As we build our evidence, how is the Minister building the evidence base on AI online harms and their social impact right now?

Will he say whether he intends to maintain that target, and/or what steps he will take to ensure that funding is available to drive regional growth and innovation?

How will the Minister ensure that lessons from rapid drone development are adopted across defence procurement, especially in cyber-security and AI, to support British SMEs?

What is she doing with the Mayor of the North East, Kim McGuinness, to ensure that more global investors are aware of the north-east's strengths and that we can attract more inward investment, creating more jobs?

My constituent Tracy was recently issued with a section 21 notice to quit and, at the same time, a section 13 rent increase that she cannot afford. She fears being made homeless with her children, so she got in touch with Newcastle city council for a council property, but the wait is 27 weeks on average and often much longer. When will good tenants be protected from unfair evictions and extortionate rent increases?