Written questions by McEvoy.

Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle online (a) grooming and (b) predatory behaviour on metaverse-type platforms; and what discussions her Department has had with Ofcom on the use of enforcement powers under the Online Safety Act 2023 to hold platforms with significant child user bases accountable.

The Online Safety Act (OSA) gives online user-to-user platforms duties to take steps to tackle online grooming and other child sexual abuse and exploitation on their services. These duties extend to user-to-user platforms that use virtual reality technology.Ofcom is the regulator for the regime. It sets out the steps in codes of practice that different providers can take to fulfil their duties. Ofcom is already enforcing the Act and has investigations into over 60 services for suspected non-compliance with the illegal and child safety duties, including for preventing the sharing of CSAM.

Innovation and Technology, what progress his Department is making on the rollout of 5G in Darlington.

In their Connected Nations Spring update, published 8 May 2025, Ofcom reports that 5G (combined standalone and non-standalone 5G) is available outside almost 100% of premises in the Darlington constituency from at least one mobile operator, but this falls to 11% from all four operators.Our ambition is for all populated areas, including Darlington, to have higher quality standalone 5G by 2030. Where mobile network operators rollout 5G is a commercial decision but I am working closely with the mobile operators to drive up improvements in mobile infrastructure and we are committed to ensuring we have the right policy and regulatory framework in place to support investment into mobile networks and competition in the market.