Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the implications for her policies on freedom of speech at universities of attempts to cancel an appearance at the Oxford Union by Professor Kathleen Stock; and if she will make a statement.

The Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 will place duties upon registered higher education providers, their colleges and students’ unions to take steps to ensure freedom of speech.

Visiting speakers will be protected, and if they have suffered adverse consequences because of a breach of the duties of a provider, college or students’ union, they will be able to make a complaint using a new free-to-use complaints scheme, which will be operated by the Office for Students.