Summary

  • MPs are debating private members' bills

  1. MP: how much is too much?published at 11:43 British Summer Time 3 July 2018

    Screen use and young people's health

    Select Committee
    Parliament

    Labour's Liz Kendall says she understands that hard guidelines are not backed up in clinical evidence, but parents are desperate to know how much is too much.

    Dr Wood says it is not about time spent online but effects on sleep. She recommends taking into account the age of the child but says no screen time for an hour before bed is a good guide.

    She says "you wouldn't give your child a can of coke before bed, it is the same thing".

    The experts say parents, not children, must be responsible for young people's screen time.

  2. What are the financial implications of Brexit for Scotland?published at 11:42 British Summer Time 3 July 2018

    Treasury questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    John McNallyImage source, HoC

    The SNP's John McNally asks what the financial implications are for Scotland of the UK leaving the EU customs union.

    Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liz Truss says that the government wants to be trading with the EU but also the rest of the world.

    Mr McNally says in his constituency people are concerned about this, he asks what is going to happen in the Friday "showdown" Cabinet meeting at Chequers.

    Ms Truss says that the UK market is worth £46bn to the Scottish economy.

  3. Social media 'controlling young people'published at 11:38 British Summer Time 3 July 2018

    Screen use and young people's health

    Select Committee
    Parliament

    Dr Goodyear explains that social media can get information on healthy lifestyles to young people.

    However, she says when young people feel vulnerable about their bodies, this can become damaging and it goes from "young people controlling social media to social media controlling them".

  4. Companies 'should share data'published at 11:30 British Summer Time 3 July 2018

    Screen use and young people's health

    Select Committee
    Parliament

    Dr Max Davie of the Royal College of Paediatricians says social media companies have data on how young people use their products and what makes them continue to use them instead of sleeping.

    He criticises the companies for not sharing this data with researchers and other professionals.

  5. Coming up today in the Commonspublished at 11:26 British Summer Time 3 July 2018

    Commons tweets

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  6. Expert: content more important than timepublished at 11:25 British Summer Time 3 July 2018

    Screen use and young people's health

    Select Committee
    Parliament

    Social mediaImage source, Getty Creative Stock

    Prof Fonagy emphasises that the most important variable in the technology and mental health link is the content of what children are looking at online.

    He says this is much harder to regulate than time spent online.

    Dr Woods makes an argument for the mental health benefits of social media, as it allows children to conduct their own social interactions. It can also allow children who are isolated at school to find communities.

  7. Expert: children feel guiltypublished at 11:19 British Summer Time 3 July 2018

    Screen use and young people's health

    Select Committee
    Parliament

    Committee chair Norman Lamb asks about screen use causing sedentary lifestyles and obesity.

    Vicky Goodyear of the University of Birmingham advocates the use of technology in physical education.

    Dr Fonagy says increased physical activity makes young people less vulnerable to the negative effects of screen time.

    Dr Woods says it is not enough to tell teenagers what to do, it is important to create a culture where children do not feel guilty for leaving social conversations to take part in other activities.

    The committee asks about the extent of effects on physical development.

    "A lot," says Anna Clarke of Cardinus Risk Management, who talks about back pain and repetitive strain injuries. She emphasises that most studies on this only look at adults.

  8. Today in the Commonspublished at 11:18 British Summer Time 3 July 2018

    Coming up...

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Another day of estimates today, with MPs discussing the budgets for education and the devolved institutions later on.

    There's a statement from the Defence Secretary, Gavin Williamson, on countering the Islamic State group.

    Firstly though, at 11:30am, the Commons will start with Treasury questions for Philip Hammond and his ministers, followed by two urgent questions.

    The first is from shadow transport secretary Andy McDonald on the electrification of Govia Thameslink. The second is from Labour's Dawn Butler, on the government's LGBT action plan.

  9. Witnesses examine link between technology and poor healthpublished at 10:53 British Summer Time 3 July 2018

    Screen use and young people's health

    Select Committee
    Parliament

    The Science and Technology Committee is hearing evidence on the impact of screen time on young people's health.

    A panel of experts is explaining links between technology and poor mental and physical health.

    Professor Peter Fonagy from NHS England says the link is "bi-directional" - social media use can damage mental health, but bad mental health can lead to more social media use.

    Dr Heather Woods, a psychology lecturer at the University of Glasgow, explains a study showing a link between screen use and sleep deprivation.

    Prof Fonagy highlights sleep deprivation as a leading cause of bad mental health.

  10. Firms 'running out of patience' on Brexitpublished at 10:14 British Summer Time 3 July 2018

    The British Chambers of Commerce publishes a list of 23 urgent "real-world" questions on Brexit.

    Read More
  11. Social media access 'far too easy'published at 09:49 British Summer Time 3 July 2018

    Science and Technology Committee

    Select Committee
    Parliament

    Emily Cherry, from Barnardo's, says children are getting onto social media far too easily, and through that getting access to damaging material.

    She says for any app, any game, there should be verification features. "We need those safety by design features," she says.

    Why should the online world be different to the real world? she asks.

  12. What is the committee investigating?published at 09:46 British Summer Time 3 July 2018

    Science and Technology Committee

    Select Committee
    Parliament

    The Science and Technology Committee has launched an inquiry into the impact of social media and screen-use on young people’s health.

    There have been several reports on the impact of social media and the use of screens on children’s mental and physical health, the committee says.

    The Royal Society for Public Health’s 2017 report ‘#StatusofMind, external’ called for action to promote the positive aspects of social media for young people, whilst mitigating the potential negatives.

    The Youth Select Committee’s 2017 report 'A Body Confident Future, external' examined negative and positive impacts of social media on body image.

    One recent US study , externalreported that the presence of smartphones damages cognitive capacity.One study , externalfound that more than one in 10 children developed high blood pressure from excessive screen time.

    On the other hand, another study , externalfound no link between children’s use of various screens and any harm to their health.

  13. Who's appearing before the committee?published at 09:37 British Summer Time 3 July 2018

    Science and Technology Committee

    Select Committee
    Parliament

    MPs on the Science and Technology Committee are questioning experts about screen use and young people's health.

    Giving evidence are:

    • Susie Hargreaves OBE, Chief Executive, Internet Watch Foundation
    • David Austin, CEO, British Board of Film Classification
    • Emily Cherry, Assistant Director of Policy & Public Affairs, Barnardo's
    • Anna Clark, Cardinus Risk Management
    • Dr Vicky Goodyear, Lecturer in Pedagogy in Sport, Physical Activity and Health, University of Birmingham
    • Dr Heather Woods, Lecturer, School of Psychology, University of Glasgow
    • Dr Max Davie, Officer for Health Promotion and Mental Health Lead, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
    • Professor Peter Fonagy, National Clinical Adviser on children and young people’s mental health, NHS England
  14. Good morningpublished at 09:20 British Summer Time 3 July 2018

    Welcome to our coverage of today in Westminster.

    We're crossing over to the committee rooms this morning, to join MPs on the Science and Technology Committee who are looking at the impact of social media on young people.

  15. 'Best of both worlds' customs plan promisedpublished at 22:08 British Summer Time 2 July 2018

    A "significant step forward" is promised as Theresa May hopes to unite her ministers on Brexit.

    Read More
  16. Today in the Commonspublished at 22:02 British Summer Time 2 July 2018

    What happened?

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    And that's where we leave our coverage of tonight's business in the Commons.

    There were a sea of urgent questions and statements in the Commons today, with the main business of the day, Estimates debates, only starting at around 6:30pm.

    The prime minister updated the House on the European Council summit which took place at the weekend, saying that the main discussion topic was solving the migrant crisis. Brexit was discussed, and she reiterated that the government is confident of securing a deal. She said both UK and EU leaders were keen to get progress on negotiations. Labour MPs lamented how much time has passed since triggering Article 50, saying that the government still is not moving fast enough.

    The contaminated blood inquiry will get underway shortly, once the judge for the inquiry, Sir Brian Langstaff, has announced his panel. This was announced by the Cabinet Office Minister David Lidington.

    Labour MPs were happy to see the inquiry get underway, although they criticised how long it has taken to get it up and running. The SNP's health spokesperson Dr Philippa Whitford said that 90 affected people had died between the inquiry being announced last year and today.

    The Commons returns at 11:30am tomorrow, with Treasury questions.

  17. Time to 'set aside political differences'published at 22:01 British Summer Time 2 July 2018

    Estimate debates

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Caroline DinenageImage source, HoC

    Health and Social Care Minister Caroline Dinenage says she agrees that it is "absolutely time to set aside political differences" in dealing with the problems in social care.

    The government recognises that pressures on the social care system continue to grow, which is why the government has increased funding for the NHS every year, she states.

    She says the government recognises that the health and social care systems are "intimately linked" and is committed to increasing NHS funding.

    More patients are being treated, and more operations are being carried out than ever before, she says.

    "NHS and social care provision are two sides of the same coin," she adds.

  18. Government won't create new pet theft lawpublished at 21:59 British Summer Time 2 July 2018

    MPs' pleas for harsher penalties for the "cruel and devastating crime" are rejected.

    Read More
  19. Funding for social care is not 'imminent' - Labourpublished at 21:49 British Summer Time 2 July 2018

    Estimate debates

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Barbara KeeleyImage source, HoC

    Labour's Barbara Keeley says that, for many in the most deprived areas, expectation of healthy and happy lifestyles end in their mid 50s.

    Funding for social care does not seem "imminent" while councils are left to raid reserves and make cuts in other areas, she says.

    The quality and sufficiency of care has fallen due to cost pressures, she adds.

    A report by Age UK has found that there are "care deserts" in the UK, where there is no care available for citizens at all, she states.

    She says that where people are able to get care, it is not always of the best quality.

  20. There is no funding for social care - SNPpublished at 21:48 British Summer Time 2 July 2018

    Estimate debates

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Dr Philippa WhitfordImage source, HoC

    The SNP's Dr Philippa Whitford says that most patients in UK health systems "will actually have a very good experience" because of "dedicated and caring staff".

    She says that increasing demand, tighter finances and overloaded workforces are problems facing the NHS now. She adds that calling the NHS cash boost a "windfall" is not true, as there is no funding for social care, public health or education for new staff.

    She adds that she agrees that there will be no Brexit dividend for the NHS, and she says that the Scottish government invests £163 per head more than in England and Wales.

    "Even before Brexit, we are losing EU staff," she says, adding that the NHS in England is seeing 19% of its EU doctors getting ready to leave.

    She says new treatments such as gene therapy are going to become very expensive for the NHS to provide.