Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill
Debate between Lord Grabiner and Lord Sandhurst
Committee stage
Monday 31st October 2022
Read Full debate Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 View all Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 Debates Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts Amendment Paper: HL Bill 30-II Second marshalled list for Grand Committee - (31 Oct 2022)
Monday 31st October 2022
(1 year, 6 months ago)
Grand CommitteeRead Full debate Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 View all Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 Debates Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts Amendment Paper: HL Bill 30-II Second marshalled list for Grand Committee - (31 Oct 2022)
Lord Grabiner (CB)
Looking at proposed new subsection 5(a)(ii), I do not really understand why the noble Lord wishes to confine this to
“academic staff of any other higher education institution”.
A visiting speaker may not fall within that definition, but is nevertheless a person who in principle should be protected and allowed to speak, and have freedom of expression. I do not really understand why it is restricted in that way.
Lord Sandhurst (Con)
What we are concerned with in particular is people losing their employment, but I am happy to go further.