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1024227

registered interest
date	12/12/2018
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Academic Freedom
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will issue guidance to universities on the misuse of data protection law and non-cooperation with security requirements in relation to upholding free speech.
tabling member printed	Baroness Deech
uin	HL12226
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/12/2018 answer text <p>The previous Minister for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation held a free speech summit in May, where sector leaders agreed to collectively develop a single piece of guidance. The government has worked alongside sector leaders to set out key principles for universities and student unions managing free speech. The Equalities and Human Rights Commission will be publishing guidance in 2019 on how to ensure that freedom of speech within the law is upheld effectively in higher education institutions, whilst acknowledging their other legal duties.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 20/12/2018 17:42:48 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	3756 label Biography information for Baroness Deech

1024228

registered interest
date	12/12/2018
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Academic Freedom
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of section 43 of the Education (No. 2) Act 1986 in upholding lawful freedom of speech on university campuses following the cancellation of a planned speech by the Israeli Ambassador at City, University of London on 21 November.
tabling member printed	Baroness Deech
uin	HL12227
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/12/2018 answer text <p>The government is deeply committed to protecting freedom of speech within the law. The freedom to express views openly, challenge ideas and engage in robust debate is crucial to the student experience and to democracy. Individuals should never be in a position where they can be stopped from expressing an opinion perfectly lawfully. Institutions are required to balance risks and legal obligations with a view to ensuring freedom of speech wherever reasonably practicable.</p><p>The Joint Committee on Human Rights held an inquiry into freedom of speech in universities earlier this year, which looked in detail and collected evidence in relation to upholding freedom of speech in universities. Drawing on information from the inquiry, which found the current regulatory landscape protecting freedom of speech to be extremely complex, the Equality and Human Rights Commission and key partners in the higher education sector have worked with the Department of Education to develop a single piece of guidance, which will set out key principles. This guidance will enable universities and student unions to understand their obligations for protecting and supporting free speech.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 20/12/2018 17:51:48 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	3756 label Biography information for Baroness Deech

904241

registered interest
date	14/05/2018
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Academic Freedom
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how they propose to include representatives of student victims of (1) inhibition of freedom of speech, and (2) disruption of meetings, in the preparation of new guidance to promote freedom of speech at universities.
tabling member printed	Baroness Deech
uin	HL7820
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/05/2018 answer text <p>At the free speech summit on 3 May 2018 held by my hon. Friend, the Minister for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation, it was agreed that the report from the Freedom of Speech in Universities inquiry by the Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) would be used as the foundation for a shared approach to free speech.</p><p> </p><p>The JCHR inquiry included evidence from a number of groups including those who had experienced disruption of events and student representatives with a range of experiences related to free speech.</p><p> </p><p>The new guidance will be drafted by the Equality and Human Rights Commission, who will work with a number of groups including the National Union of Students.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 29/05/2018 13:23:12 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	3756 label Biography information for Baroness Deech

867237

registered interest
date	19/03/2018
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Academic Freedom
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Office for Students concerning the upholding of laws on freedom of speech following the postponement by King's College London (KCL) of a planned lecture on 16 March on freedom of speech by Dr Adam Perkins to the KCL Libertarian Society.
tabling member printed	Baroness Deech
uin	HL6444
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/03/2018 answer text <p>My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State issued guidance to the Office for Students (OfS) on 20 February 2018, which sets out the expectation that the OfS will champion and promote freedom of speech, as well as working with providers to challenge and call out attempts to shut down or ‘no platform’ speakers.</p><p>My hon. Friend, the Minister for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation has also announced that he will be holding a free speech summit to discuss issues around free speech on campuses and is working with the OfS on this.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 29/03/2018 14:14:42 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	3756 label Biography information for Baroness Deech

856306

registered interest
date	06/03/2018
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Academic Freedom
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of protection of freedom of speech at universities, following the violent disruption at the King's College London Libertarian Society meeting on 5 March.
tabling member printed	Baroness Deech
uin	HL6096
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/03/2018 answer text <p>Hatred, discrimination and violence have no place on our campuses. Universities have a clear responsibility under the Equality Act 2010 to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation, and to foster good relations between those who share protected characteristics, such as race or religion, and those who do not.</p><p> </p><p>Free speech is protected in universities by law and plays a crucial role in generating rigorous debate, advancing understanding and allowing students to challenge conventional wisdom and discuss controversial subjects. Under the Education (No 2) Act 1986, universities have a duty to ‘take reasonably practicable steps to ensure freedom of speech for staff, students and visiting speakers,’ and this includes having a free speech code of practice. The Higher Education and Research Act 2017 extends this duty to all providers registered with the Office for Students (OfS).</p><p> </p><p>The OfS will have an important role to play in championing free speech. Under our proposals they would also have a range of levers to intervene where issues arise. A principle relating to freedom of speech is also included in the recently published regulatory framework for OfS, see attached.</p><p> </p><p>This government remains committed to freedom of speech within the law – this does not include hate speech, incitement to violence or terrorism. We expect universities to take appropriate action, including involving law enforcement if necessary, in response to incidents such as those at Kings College on 5 March 2018.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 19/03/2018 18:04:32 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie attachment 1 file name HL6096 - OfS framework.pdf title Office for Students framework
tabling member	3756 label Biography information for Baroness Deech

628237

registered interest
date	03/11/2016
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Academic Freedom
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the attempt by protesters to disrupt a talk by an Israeli speaker at University College London on 27 October, what steps they are taking to ensure freedom of speech.
tabling member printed	Baroness Deech
uin	HL2972
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/11/2016 answer text <p>Open and robust debate is how students should challenge those they disagree with. There is no place for students that use intimidation or violence to attempt to shut down the free and open exchange of ideas.</p><p>Universities have a legal duty to secure freedom of speech for their members, students, employees and visiting speakers, and must have clearly set out policies for how they will ensure that this can happen. Universities also have a clear responsibility to provide a safe and inclusive environment and no staff or student should ever feel threatened or intimidated. It is also essential that they have clear policies and procedures to ensure that all students and staff can live and work without discrimination, intimidation or harassment. We expect universities to demonstrate how they will act swiftly to investigate and address hate crime, including anti-Semitic related incidents, reported to them.</p><p>We have asked the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), in their role as regulator, to engage with University College London (UCL) to ensure that their policies and procedures for events with external speakers are fit for purpose and were implemented appropriately in this instance. UCL have issued a statement on 11 November 2016 regarding the incident, which sets out that they have launched an immediate investigation.</p><p>In September 2015 we asked Universities UK (UUK) to set up a Harassment Taskforce. The Taskforce has recently published a report which sets out that universities should adopt a zero-tolerance approach to harassment and hate crime. The report has been attached to this answer. We must now ensure that the work of the Taskforce goes on to make a real difference to students across the country. The Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation has asked UUK to survey progress in six months and make sure universities are doing all they can to protect the safety and security of their students. We hope that the new guidelines for universities issued alongside the UUK Taskforce report will help universities in effectively tackling incidents such as these.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 17/11/2016 17:15:39 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie attachment 1 file name Changing-the-Culture.pdf title UUK_Changing_The_Culture
tabling member	3756 label Biography information for Baroness Deech