Examination of Witnesses

Part of Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 10:31 am on 7 September 2021.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Matt Western Matt Western Shadow Minister (Education) 10:31, 7 September 2021

Q Welcome to you both. Thank you for joining us and for your written submissions. A question to both of you: English PEN, one of the world’s oldest human rights organisations, raised concerns about whether a director for freedom of speech and academic freedom will be a regulator, an adjudicator or an adviser on free speech issues? How do you envisage the role of the director? Do you have concerns over the independence of the role and whether the director could infringe academic freedom in and of itself?