To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions she has had with the Charity Commission on oversight of students’ unions’ compliance with their legal duties.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions she has had with the Charity Commission on oversight of students’ unions’ compliance with their legal duties.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to add additional regulatory requirements for students’ unions in relation to tackling extremism and hate incidents on campus.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to add additional regulatory requirements for students’ unions in relation to tackling extremism and hate incidents on campus.

This briefing considers freedom of speech in universities in England, covering recent legislative changes and the work of the Office for Students.

This briefing considers freedom of speech in universities in England, covering recent legislative changes and the work of the Office for Students.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to review the legal duty of care between universities and Students' Unions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to review the legal duty of care between universities and Students' Unions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of risk assessments for Students' Union activities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of risk assessments for Students' Union activities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance her Department has issued to (a) universities and (b) students’ unions on (i) conducting and (ii) the oversight of risk assessments for student-led (A) extracurricular and (B) off-campus activities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance her Department has issued to (a) universities and (b) students’ unions on (i) conducting and (ii) the oversight of risk assessments for student-led (A) extracurricular and (B) off-campus activities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has made an assessment of the adequacy of the legal framework on the duty of care owed by (a) higher education institutions and (b) associated students’ unions to students.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has made an assessment of the adequacy of the legal framework on the duty of care owed by (a) higher education institutions and (b) associated students’ unions to students.

My Lords, Liberal Democrats welcome this Statement, but for entirely different reasons from those that noble Lords have just heard from the Conservative Front Bench. This provision removes parts of the Act that we opposed during its passage through Parliament, and we welcome that; we were not persuaded that the...

My Lords, Liberal Democrats welcome this Statement, but for entirely different reasons from those that noble Lords have just heard from the Conservative Front Bench. This provision removes parts of the Act that we opposed during its passage through Parliament, and we welcome that; we were not persuaded that the...

My Lords, I declare an interest as chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, which is the national human rights institution for Great Britain. Another interest is that we are an intervener on the proposed judicial review. It would not be wise for me to say much on the...

My Lords, I declare an interest as chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, which is the national human rights institution for Great Britain. Another interest is that we are an intervener on the proposed judicial review. It would not be wise for me to say much on the...

Forgive me; I will address a point directly to the Minister. I am grateful that we are meeting next week, but we should have been consulted as part of that consultation. I say to the Government Whip that the clerks upstairs have told me that I need to declare these...

Forgive me; I will address a point directly to the Minister. I am grateful that we are meeting next week, but we should have been consulted as part of that consultation. I say to the Government Whip that the clerks upstairs have told me that I need to declare these...

The noble Baroness probably identified the issue in her statement. The engagement of the EHRC in the legal case legitimately made it much more difficult for us to meet during the course of that process. However, as she identified, I have ensured that we can meet as soon as possible...

The noble Baroness probably identified the issue in her statement. The engagement of the EHRC in the legal case legitimately made it much more difficult for us to meet during the course of that process. However, as she identified, I have ensured that we can meet as soon as possible...

My Lords, I remind noble Lords of my interests in the register and warmly welcome the proportionate way in which the Government are acting and my noble friend’s Statement. Free speech is the lifeblood of a university. This reconsideration of the Act certainly recognises that, but all universities also recognise...

My Lords, I remind noble Lords of my interests in the register and warmly welcome the proportionate way in which the Government are acting and my noble friend’s Statement. Free speech is the lifeblood of a university. This reconsideration of the Act certainly recognises that, but all universities also recognise...

My Lords—

My Lords—

I am looking forward to coming to the noble Baroness, but I will answer this question first.

I thank my noble friend and strongly agree that there is an appropriate role for legislation, as we have identified, and an enormously important role for culture, serious thinking and engagement. That perhaps needs...

I am looking forward to coming to the noble Baroness, but I will answer this question first.

I thank my noble friend and strongly agree that there is an appropriate role for legislation, as we have identified, and an enormously important role for culture, serious thinking and engagement. That perhaps needs...

My Lords, when the Government initially halted the legislation, we Liberal Democrats agreed that defending free speech at university was important but that the legislation was unnecessary and overbearing. As the noble Baroness, Lady Royall, just said, free speech is obviously integral to universities. Can the Minister explain what new...

My Lords, when the Government initially halted the legislation, we Liberal Democrats agreed that defending free speech at university was important but that the legislation was unnecessary and overbearing. As the noble Baroness, Lady Royall, just said, free speech is obviously integral to universities. Can the Minister explain what new...

It was exactly the position that the noble Baroness has taken that brought us to this conclusion. Freedom of speech and academic freedom are at the heart of what is good and important about our universities, but perhaps there had not been the focus on them that was necessary, particularly...

It was exactly the position that the noble Baroness has taken that brought us to this conclusion. Freedom of speech and academic freedom are at the heart of what is good and important about our universities, but perhaps there had not been the focus on them that was necessary, particularly...

My Lords, I very much welcome what the Minister says. I look forward to the legislation when it comes, and to it being effective. Would she take a look at extending the provisions on non-disclosure agreements to free speech issues? Knowing what has happened, what has gone wrong and how...

My Lords, I very much welcome what the Minister says. I look forward to the legislation when it comes, and to it being effective. Would she take a look at extending the provisions on non-disclosure agreements to free speech issues? Knowing what has happened, what has gone wrong and how...

I will limit myself to the provisions on non-disclosure agreements within this legislation. It is our intention to commence the ban on non-disclosure agreements for staff and students at higher education providers in cases of bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct. The other provisions and requirements will ensure that we do...

I will limit myself to the provisions on non-disclosure agreements within this legislation. It is our intention to commence the ban on non-disclosure agreements for staff and students at higher education providers in cases of bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct. The other provisions and requirements will ensure that we do...

The Minister will recall that I advised strongly when she was first appointed that she takes her time to get this right, considering my remit on anti-Semitism, because getting this right is essential. I commend the removal of the tort. I have met every single university leader in this country...

The Minister will recall that I advised strongly when she was first appointed that she takes her time to get this right, considering my remit on anti-Semitism, because getting this right is essential. I commend the removal of the tort. I have met every single university leader in this country...