Written questions by Coleman.

Innovation and Technology, whether he plans to restrict the online (a) advertising and (b) selling of (i) image and performance enhancing drugs and (ii) anabolic steroids to children and young people.

It is not permitted to advertise prescription-only medicines such as anabolic steroids. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) is responsible for regulating and investigating advertising in the UK, including online.Additionally, the Online Safety Act requires all services in scope to take proactive steps to stop their services facilitating illegal sales of drugs. Beyond illegal sale of drugs, platforms also need to protect children from harmful content that encourages ingestion, inhalation or exposure to harmful substances.Where substances are controlled drugs then the offences under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 would apply, including offences of supply and possession where relevant.

Innovation and Technology, what steps he plans to take to prevent the spread of divisive content on social media; and what enforcement measures he plans to put in place to encourage the compliance of the (a) owners and (b) managers of these platforms.

The Online Safety Act gives social media platforms new duties to protect their users from harmful content and activity. These include extensive duties to protect users from content which stirs up or incites hatred. It also includes duties to protect users from illegal state-backed interference and disinformation. Ofcom is the new regulator for this regime. It will have strong enforcement powers where platforms fail to comply with their duties. This includes powers to impose substantial fines and business disruption measures and also, in certain circumstances, hold senior managers criminally liable.