Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he has had discussions with the University of Oxford on its governance following the suspension of the Dean of Christ Church cathedral and college Oxford; and if he will make a statement.

There have been no discussions. Higher education providers’ governance arrangements are matters for the Office for Students (OfS), the independent regulator of higher education in England.

The OfS requires all registered providers to meet the public interest governance principles, which include that all providers must operate openly, honestly, accountably and with integrity and demonstrate the values appropriate to be recognised as an English higher education provider.

If providers fall short, the OfS has powers to intervene. The OfS considers a range of factors before deciding whether an intervention is required, including reputational damage to the higher education sector caused by the actions of a provider registered with the OfS.