Viscount Younger of Leckie: Universities and certain other higher education providers are required by the Education (No.2) Act 1986, to take reasonable steps to secure freedom of speech within the law for staff, students and visiting speakers. The Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, specifically requires providers that are subject to the statutory freedom of speech duty, to have particular regard to that duty when...
Chris Skidmore: This government will ensure that our universities are places where free speech can thrive and work to strengthen academic freedoms. The freedom to express views openly, challenge ideas and engage in robust debate is crucial to the student experience and to democracy. Lawful freedom of speech and the right to discuss all kinds of issues is an integral part of our higher education system. ...
Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: Ministers are working to ensure that lawful freedom of speech in higher education is supported to the fullest extent. The Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill was introduced on 12 May 2021 in the House of Commons and will strengthen existing freedom of speech duties in England. It will directly address gaps within the existing law and extend the duties to cover students’ unions as well...
Michelle Donelan: This government believes that freedom of speech and academic freedom are fundamental pillars of our higher education system and that protecting these principles should be a priority for universities. That is why the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill was introduced on 12 May. The bill will strengthen existing freedom of speech duties and directly address gaps within the existing law....
Michelle Donelan: Clauses 1 and 2 strengthen freedom of speech duties on registered higher education providers and extend them to students unions at approved fee cap providers. Clause 3 plugs an identifiable and substantive gap in the current legislative framework by providing individuals with a route of redress for loss suffered as a result of a breach of these freedom of speech duties. Clause 3 therefore...
Andrea Jenkyns: This government believes that freedom of speech and academic freedom are fundamental pillars of our higher education system and that protecting these principles should be a priority for universities. That is why the Higher Education Freedom of Speech Bill has been introduced. The bill will strengthen existing freedom of speech duties and directly address gaps within the existing law,...
“After section A3 of the Higher Education and Research Act 2017 (inserted by section 1) insert— “Duties of constituent institutions A3A Duties of constituent institutions ‘(1) Sections A1 to A3 apply in relation to the governing body of a constituent institution of a registered higher education provider as they apply in relation to the governing body of the provider. (2) Accordingly,...
Sam Gyimah: Higher education institutions (HEIs) are independent, autonomous bodies and as such, they are responsible for their own admissions decisions. HEIs are best placed to decide on the information that will help to identify the candidates with the talent and potential to succeed at that institution or on a particular course, including vocational qualifications. In 2017, 3.5% of UK 18-year-old...
David Willetts: University accommodation is provided at the discretion of higher education institutions themselves, and is not funded by Government. The majority of institutions provide student accommodation either directly or through relationships with housing providers. Higher education institutions have duties under the Equality Act 2010 to support disabled students in higher education when applying to...
David Willetts: I have no plans to evaluate the efficacy or level of mental health care provision in higher education institutions. Universities have duties under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995 (as amended) to support disabled staff and students in higher education, including those with mental health conditions. They will have similar duties under the Equality Act 2010, once its provisions...
Baroness Ashton of Upholland: Data on the ethnicity of academic staff in higher education are collected by the Higher Education Statistics Agency. The Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 puts a new duty on each university and college to prepare and maintain a written statement of its race equality policy and assess the impact of its policy on students and staff of different racial groups. They must monitor, by reference...
Gavin Williamson: It absolutely is. I am sure the hon. Lady was about to come on to the amazing work that the Office for Students has commissioned to ensure that all universities take the action required, including looking at whether that is a condition of registration for universities, which, as she will understand, is absolutely fundamental for universities to be able to operate. The Bill will protect lawful...
Michelle Donelan: The government believes that freedom of speech and academic freedom are fundamental pillars of our higher education system, and that protecting these principles should be a priority for universities. That is why we have introduced the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill, which passed its 2nd reading in the House of Commons on 12 July 2021 and was debated by the Public Bill Committee in...
William Hague: The hon. Gentleman will be interested in what I have to say about further and higher education. Those are the reasons why I believe that new clause 3 is mistaken with regard to school education. Similarly, I see many good reasons to retain and build on the existing legislation covering the responsibilities of further and higher education funding councils, local education authorities, the...
Michelle Donelan: Under amendment 70, higher education providers would not have to comply with certain academic decisions such as those concerning delivery of curriculum or research in relation to the Prevent duty. The Government are clear that the Prevent duty should be used not to suppress freedom of speech but to require providers, when exercising their functions, to have due regard for the need to prevent...
Wes Streeting: It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship again, Sir Edward. Amendments 15, 20 and 28 all deal with the responsibilities and duties of the proposed office for students in relation to access and participation. We all know that there have been significant strides to widen participation in higher education and ensure fair access to our most selective universities, but much more progress...
Baroness Goldie: My Lords, the threat we face from terrorism is unprecedented and very real. In addition to the framework of the criminal law, we must have a strong and robust preventive element to our counter-terrorism efforts. We must collectively help in the fight against terrorism and try to protect those who may be vulnerable or susceptible to radicalisation towards acts of terrorism. I want to make it...
Karen Bradley: In respect of the duty to have due regard to preventing people from being drawn into terrorism in clause 21, the Government have tabled a number of corrective amendments to the list in schedule 3, which specifies the authorities subject to the duty. The amendments will ensure that the intended specified authorities are subject to the duty. Amendment 13 would add: “A person carrying out a...
Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive set out in its Framework for Higher Education how it is working with the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC) and the higher education (HE) sector to ensure that those who have the talent and potential to succeed within HE are enabled to do so, wherever they live or whatever their circumstances. Specifically in Lanarkshire, Bell College was designated as a...
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Discussions are underway with the higher education sector to ensure they are ready to meet their legal duties under the Equality Act 2010 by 2015. The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) is currently undertaking a review of provision and support for disabled students in higher education.
