Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Mark Logan and Michelle Donelan

Monday 31st January 2022 Commons Chamber

[Mark Logan (Bolton North East) (Con)]

15. What steps his Department is taking to protect freedom of speech on university campuses.

[The Minister for Higher and Further Education (Michelle Donelan)]

Freedom of speech is a fundamental principle of higher education and this Government will not allow the continued self-censorship of individuals facing negative repercussions for lawfully expressed views, which is why our Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill will strengthen existing freedom of speech duties.

[Michelle Donelan]

I welcome the University of Buckingham continuing to champion free speech. Our Bill contains exactly those sorts of measure to further strengthen protection for individuals who are being harassed for expressing their lawful views, and I am sure my hon. Friend will support it when it returns to this House.

[Mark Logan (Bolton North East) (Con)]

Will the Minister agree to visit my constituency to see the efforts of some of our schools, including Eden Boys School, which is a feeder school into the University of Bolton, to make sure we get the balance right between freedom of speech and respect for religious values?

[Michelle Donelan]

Of course I will be delighted to visit Bolton North East. Maintaining free speech in our universities and political impartiality in our schools while also respecting religious values is imperative, as tomorrow’s generation shape their views.