THERE has been some concern expressed recently about the ability of children to access pornography online.

In response the Culture Secretary, Sajid Javid MP, recently set out plans to ensure children are protected from online hardcore pornography.

With the growth in online pornography it is currently all too easy for children to access adult content on websites without restriction whether intentionally or otherwise.

That is why I support moves to establish more effective controls to stop children accessing inappropriate and damaging material, both on websites operated from the UK and overseas.

The proposals would require online pornography distributors to put in place effective age verification controls to stop children accessing material and create an independent regulator with the power to enforce this.

Distributors of online hardcore pornography will be required to put in place effective age verification controls to ensure children are stopped from accessing inappropriate material.

This duty will apply to companies based in the UK and abroad.

An independent regulator will be given the powers they need to make sure companies comply with these rules.

The regulator will have the power to instruct internet service providers to block the websites of distributors who do not comply. There would be no government involvement in deciding what online content should be filtered.

The independent regulator will have the power to require internet service providers to block specific websites and web pages that they identify as distributing hardcore pornography without effective age verification controls.

The regulator will also have the power to issue targeted sanctions, including financial penalties to those ISPs who do not comply with specific requests.

These new measures will ensure that children are protected from harmful material online and that rules that apply offline apply online.

This will give parents the peace of mind of knowing that their children can use the internet safely and will be free to develop a healthy attitude to sex and relationships.

I believe it is right to limit children’s exposure to strong sexual images online as we do offline, to prevent such exposure having an adverse effect on their development.

This is not about preventing adults from accessing legal content online but making sure the rules and restrictions that apply offline apply online as well.

I hope these measures will be implemented by whoever forms the Government after the next election.