Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Topical Questions

Wednesday 18 March 2026 · 6 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 4 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial questions addressed online safety and the need for faster implementation of measures.
  • The lobular moon shot project aims to fund critical research, with the Secretary of State committing to work on it.
  • The Secretary of State affirmed the importance of a new nuclear fusion site in Gainsborough, emphasizing its green energy and economic potential.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Kirith Entwistle Lab Bolton North East
Culture, Media & Sport Women & Equalities
Context

The question arises from concerns about the rapid pace of technological advancements in online environments, particularly regarding the safety of intimate images.

Question

If she will make a statement on her departmental responsibilities. Although I am proud of the steps that our Government have taken to advance online safety, we are merely playing catch-up. What more are the Government doing to ensure that we keep pace with the reality facing women and girls and how will they address emerging technologies such as AI smart glasses, which are operating without scrutiny?

Answer from Liz Kendall

One of my reflections in this job is that it took eight years for the Online Safety Act 2023 to come in, and it is still to be fully implemented. We need to move faster. MPs discuss a Finance Bill every year, and technology moves incredibly fast, so I am always prepared to take further action when it is needed.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific measures for emerging technologies like AI smart glasses were not addressed

How: We Need To Move Faster, I Am Always Prepared To Take Further Action

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Q2 Kirith Entwistle Lab Bolton North East
NHS
Context

The lobular moon shot project aims to fund critical research into lobular breast cancer, a disease often missed by screening and lacking targeted treatments. Despite 463 MPs supporting this plan, no material progress has been made.

Question

I am asking this question on behalf of my hon. Friend the Member for Hornchurch and Upminster (Julia Lopez), the shadow Secretary of State, who cannot be here today, but wants the House to know how important this issue is to her. The lobular moon shot project is a plan to fund critical research into lobular breast cancer. It is a disease often missed by screening and with no targeted treatment. A total of 463 Members of this House, including the Leader of the Opposition, support this plan. The Health Secretary says that there is no political disagreement on this, yet nothing has materially happened. His Department now says that it is for DSIT and UK Research and Innovation to comment on budget allocations and spending research priorities. I ask the Secretary of State this: is the moon shot project a research priority for her, as it is for 463 of her parliamentary colleagues?

Answer from Liz Kendall

Anything that deeply affects the lives of thousands of people is a priority for me. I am more than happy to work with the hon. Gentleman and others to reach a resolution here. My understanding is that we need to get right the quality of bids, but I would of course be happy to meet to discuss this further.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Commitment to work on the issue without specific priority status or timeline

How: I Am More Than Happy To Work With, We Need To Get Right The Quality Of Bids

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Q3 Peter Fortune Con Bromley and Biggin Hill
NHS
Context

The previous question inquired about the lobular moon shot project, a critical research initiative for lobular breast cancer. The current Secretary of State committed to working on this issue.

Question

I thank the Secretary of State for that response. She should know that, on 22 April, vigils will be held across Westminster for the 22 women diagnosed with this insidious disease every day. I thank her for that commitment to work with the Health Secretary between now and then so that we can highlight this issue. Will she agree to come back to the House and update us on the comments and discussions that she has had with the Secretary of State for Health?

Answer from Liz Kendall

Yes, because I always believe in action, not just words.

Answered
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Q4 Peter Fortune Con Bromley and Biggin Hill
Culture, Media & Sport Science & Technology
Context

Britain's AI economy is second only to the US and China, while its creative sector is world-leading. There are concerns about protecting these sectors in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.

Question

Britain has a world-leading creative sector and an AI economy second only to the US and China. Will the Secretary of State tell me how she is promoting and protecting both industries?

Answer from Liz Kendall

This Government are determined to protect the UK's position as a world-leading creative powerhouse and unlock the extraordinary potential of AI to grow the economy and improve British lives. Today, we published a report and impact assessment, fulfilling the commitments made in the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025. We have listened to the views on our initial consultation and confirmed that the Government no longer have a preferred option. We have also set out where we will do more work with our creative and AI sectors, including on digital replicas, labelling AI-generated content, creator control and transparency and support for our brilliant small and independent creatives.

Answered
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Q5 Gordon McKee Lab Glasgow South
Science & Technology Energy
Context

The new nuclear fusion site near Gainsborough is expected to contribute significantly to green energy and economic growth in the region.

Question

Will the Secretary of State commend the new nuclear fusion site at West Burton, just two miles from the town of Gainsborough, which, potentially, will unleash unlimited green energy as well as hundreds of millions of pounds of investment and thousands of jobs? Will she confirm that, when it comes to science and innovation, this country is not broken, but is leading the world?

Answer from Kanishka Narayan

First, may I affirm the importance of the project that the right hon. Gentleman is talking about? The Government are backing the future of nuclear fusion across the country, and this site in particular has a huge contribution to make. Construction will be on its way by the end of the decade, with research and development tests before that.

Answered
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Q6 Edward Leigh Con Gainsborough
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

The Secretary of State recently met with students from several schools in the constituency to discuss online safety measures that align with their needs without overly restrictive age-based bans.

Question

Last week I met pupils from Pittencrieff primary school, Dollar academy and Queen Anne high school in my constituency to talk about how to keep them safe online. They were very much in favour of some restrictions to make sure that they were safe on social media but were very cautious of age-based bans. Will the Secretary of State ensure that the consultation coming forward is reflective of what young people say and that it fits their daily lives?

Answer from Liz Kendall

Yes. We have already had more than 25,000 responses to our consultation, including 1,700 from children and young people. If my hon. Friend or any other hon. Member wants to send in the views of their constituents, including of young people, I will personally read them.

Answered
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