Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what duties the Free Speech and Academic Freedom Champion will have to ensure adequate community engagement.

The Director for Freedom of Speech and Academic Freedom will be responsible for overseeing the performance of the Office for Students’ (OfS) freedom of speech functions, including the monitoring and enforcement of freedom of speech registration conditions, the new complaints scheme and the new duties on students’ unions under the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill. Further details of the role will be available when the position is advertised in due course.

The OfS is anticipated to consult on regulatory changes, to develop the new complaints scheme and to draft guidance.