DAVIES: “Senedd ministers must not attempt social media ban”

South Wales Central Conservative MS Andrew RT Davies has warned Senedd ministers not to try and impose a social media ban.

Responding to Mr Davies in the Senedd, Cabinet Secretary for Education Lynne Neagle confirmed it was a reserved matter.

The Senedd consequently does not have the power to act in this area.

Mr Davies pointed to several policy areas in which Plaid Cymru separatist and Labour Senedd members had sought to intervene, despite it being outside their remit.

He claimed this pulled resources away from crucial public services like the NHS and schools.

He said regulation of social media must be left to the British Parliament in Westminster.

Mr Davies said:

“Senedd ministers have no power to impose a social media ban and they must not attempt to do so.

“Plaid Cymru separatist and Labour Senedd members often try to act in areas for which they aren’t responsible, and this takes resources away from our NHS and schools.

“Regulation of social media must be left to the British Parliament.”

ENDS 

NOTES:

Please find below the Senedd’s record of proceedings from Wedneday 28th January

https://record.senedd.wales/Plenary/15729#C744160

Andrew R.T. Davies

15:00:24

Just on another point, in response to Mick Antoniw, you touched on it being a reserved responsibility, I think, access to social media. Do you have the power to bring a ban in, or is there some element of reserved power that you have to overcome first of all before you can bring such a ban in here in Wales?

Lynne Neagle

15:01:25

Thank you, Andrew. The point that I made to Mick was in relation to the social media ban. It is our understanding that a social media ban—just as the Online Safety Act 2023 is a reserved matter, so would a social media ban be.