Asked by: Baroness Barran (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the likely impact of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 on the prevalence of hate speech in universities.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Education)
The government fully supports peaceful protest and lawful free speech in universities. However, that does not extend to unlawful free speech, including that which incites hatred and violence, or which causes harassment.
One of the reasons the government has paused further implementation of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 is because the higher education (HE) sector, minority groups and unions representing staff on campus have raised concerns about the Act, believing it to be disproportionate, burdensome and damaging to the welfare of students, and that fears of sanction could push providers to overlook minority groups’ safety. All students, regardless of race or religion, should be free to focus on their studies rather than worry about their safety. By pausing further commencement of the Act in order to consider all options, the government is ensuring that HE remains a space for constructive dialogue and diverse opinions, rather than a battleground for ideological clashes.
Asked by: Baroness Barran (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the letter signed by over 600 academics and seven British Nobel laureates to the Secretary of State for Education calling for the implementation of the remaining provisions of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Education)
I, as Minister for Skills, can confirm that I have considered the letter and the concerns raised in it. Officials and I have met with over 40 individuals to discuss the future of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023, including academics with concerns about constraints on freedom of speech and academic freedom. A number of these academics were signatories to the open letter sent to my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education on 15 August 2024. This includes representatives from Academics for Academic Freedom, Committee for Academic Freedom and the London Universities Council for Academic Freedom. Officials have also met with representatives of nine sector mission groups, unions and representatives of minority groups.
This stakeholder engagement will feed into decision making on the future of the Act and this government’s longer-term policy on protecting freedom of speech across the higher education sector.
Asked by: Baroness Barran (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Sherlock on 7 August (HL344), how many staff in the Department for Education are permitted to undertake diversity-related network time during core working hours; what is the percentage of overall working time they are permitted to spend on such network activity; how many hours are allocated in total; what are the names of each of the networks being funded; and whether they have any plans to increase or reduce such funding.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Education)
The department does not hold the data requested. The majority of staff time spent on diversity staff networks is voluntary and unpaid.
Asked by: Baroness Barran (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the financial risk to universities as a result of volatility in international student numbers.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Education)
The Office for Students (OfS) is the independent regulator of higher education (HE) in England. The OfS is responsible for monitoring and reporting on the financial sustainability of HE providers in England to ensure they have an up to date understanding of the sustainability of the sector.
The OfS’ most recent report, which was published in May 2024, is available in the attached document. In the report, the OfS stated that the HE financial model had become reliant on fee income from international students, with a particular vulnerability where recruitment is predominantly from a single country.
The department continues to work with the OfS and other relevant parties to understand the ongoing impacts and changing landscape of financial sustainability in the sector.
Asked by: Baroness Barran (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to reduce the waiting lists for Level 4 and Level 5 engineering courses at further education colleges.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Education)
The government recognises the importance of Level 4 and 5 courses for growth and opportunity across a number of key sectors, including engineering and manufacturing. The department aims to create a clear, flexible, high quality skills system that supports people of all ages, breaking down the barriers to opportunity and driving economic growth, and is establishing Skills England to help achieve this. The government will also create a set of new, specialist Technical Excellence Colleges to deliver the highly trained workforces that local economies need.
Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs) are new and existing Level 4 and 5 qualifications that have been independently approved as providing the skills needed for a wide range of specialist roles.
23 engineering and manufacturing HTQs have been approved for teaching from September 2024, with both full and part-time provision being offered. Over 180 providers are now approved to deliver HTQs, across all regions of England, including further education (FE) colleges, Institutes of Technology (IoTs), universities and Independent Training Providers (ITPs).
Up to £115 million of funding has been made available to providers to increase the availability of higher technical education, supporting investment in industry-standard equipment and upskilling staff. This funding has been allocated to a range of providers to support delivery of HTQs and other Level 4 and 5 qualifications, including FE colleges.
Asked by: Baroness Barran (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to facilitate the growing demand for accelerated part-time study.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Education)
The government is committed to supporting students to study in a way that is right for them.
The department is working to ensure that its approach to lifelong learning will be as effective as possible, enabling people to gain the skills they need to support their careers.
The department will make further announcements about this work shortly.
Asked by: Baroness Barran (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Smith of Malvern on 12 September (HL Deb col 1717–51), when the Office for Students will receive the auditors' report it commissioned on market exits; and whether the main findings will be published.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Education)
The objective of the Office for Students’ (OfS) tender is to procure for services to evaluate the financial health and the management and governance capability of higher education providers to ensure that the interests of students are safeguarded throughout any financial adjustments or transition, including potential market exits.
The OfS are currently evaluating the bids to this tender and are not in a position to provide further information at this time.
Asked by: Baroness Barran (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government how they plan to ensure that students being taught by franchise providers are getting a high quality education.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Education)
The government published its response to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report into student loans issued to those studying at franchised higher education providers on 5 September 2024. This is attached and can also be viewed here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66d9d2bfe87ad2f12182650e/E03194725_HMT_Treasury_Minutes_Sept_24_Accessible.pdf. The response sets out that the department intends to consult by January 2025 on proposals to strengthen oversight of partnership delivery in higher education.
The government is working closely with the Office for Students (OfS) to ensure that students studying at franchise providers are receiving good quality education. In November 2023, the OfS published its criteria for assessing providers in 2023/24 in relation to student outcomes, which included a focus on franchise arrangements. The OfS is now progressing investigations into franchise partnerships where it has concerns.
The department has been clear that responsibility for good quality provision in franchised partnerships should be led by the sector. In July 2024, Universities UK published a governance framework, with the aim of supporting universities to improve governance of franchised partnerships and mitigating risks so that these partnerships deliver for students.
Asked by: Baroness Barran (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether it is possible to reduce the monthly repayments for every single new graduate without increasing government borrowing or general taxation.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Education)
The government is determined that the higher education (HE) funding system should deliver for the economy, for universities, and for students and will look carefully at all options and come forward with proposals.
Funding plans for the HE sector will be set out at the relevant fiscal event, in line with the approach to public spending commitments across government.
Asked by: Baroness Barran (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have for the level of university undergraduate fees in the future.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Education)
The government is determined that the higher education (HE) funding system should deliver for the economy, for universities, and for students and will look carefully at all options and come forward with proposals.
Funding plans for the HE sector will be set out at the relevant fiscal event, in line with the approach to public spending commitments across government.