Question

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they plan to take to safeguard the principle of free speech in university campuses in the United Kingdom.

The Counter-Terrorism and Security Bill proposes new measures to reduce the risk of terrorism; these measures, if agreed by Parliament, will in turn reduce the threat terrorism poses to freedom of speech in universities and elsewhere.

The detailed guidance on the proposed new duty, to have regard to the need to prevent people being drawn into terrorism, is currently subject to consultation. The Government expects to revise the guidance in the light of the consultation to make clearer universities’ duty to promote freedom of speech.