Universities: Freedom of Expression

(asked on 19th March 2018) - View Source

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Office for Students concerning the upholding of laws on freedom of speech following the postponement by King's College London (KCL) of a planned lecture on 16 March on freedom of speech by Dr Adam Perkins to the KCL Libertarian Society.


Answered by
Viscount Younger of Leckie Portrait
Viscount Younger of Leckie
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
This question was answered on 29th March 2018

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State issued guidance to the Office for Students (OfS) on 20 February 2018, which sets out the expectation that the OfS will champion and promote freedom of speech, as well as working with providers to challenge and call out attempts to shut down or ‘no platform’ speakers.

My hon. Friend, the Minister for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation has also announced that he will be holding a free speech summit to discuss issues around free speech on campuses and is working with the OfS on this.

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