Contributions
755 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill (Fifth sitting)I, too, thank the Clerks for their work in facilitating this Committee. Amendment 50 would reinstate the wording currently in section 43(1) of the Education (No. 2) Act 1986,…15 Sept 2021HANSARD Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill (Sixth sitting)Two points are being made. One is about the right to a platform, whereby an individual can, in essence, demand to speak at a university. In no way does the Bill give anyone the…15 Sept 2021HANSARD Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill (Sixth sitting)The hon. Member is absolutely incorrect, because universities and student unions will only have to take reasonably practicable steps to ensure that freedom of speech exists.…15 Sept 2021HANSARD Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill (Sixth sitting)While it would not be appropriate for me to outline how the Bill would apply to a retrospective individual case, I can give guarantees that in broad terms it will be…15 Sept 2021HANSARD Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill (Fifth sitting)I refute the point that everything in the evidence was disregarded. The Government reserve the right to stick by their opinion, which is that this Bill will protect academic…15 Sept 2021HANSARD Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill (Fifth sitting)I will continue a little bit. Amendment 51 proposes primacy instead of importance. The Government are clear that freedom of speech is a fundamental right. Indeed, the new…15 Sept 2021HANSARD Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill (Sixth sitting)I thank the hon. Member for that helpful point. I commit to taking away that very topic.15 Sept 2021HANSARD Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill (Sixth sitting)Amendments 80, 28, 45, 46 and 49 seek to set out the type of speech that the definition of academic freedom in clause 1 covers, and to ensure it includes the right of academic…15 Sept 2021HANSARD Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill (Sixth sitting)Sorry; I commit to taking away the topic of field of expertise, which is covered in amendment 28, as well as amendment 80. I will outline the reason why the topic is in the Bill…15 Sept 2021HANSARD Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill (Sixth sitting)I and the Government commit to taking the topic away, listening to Members from across the Committee today and their very valid points and concerns on the topic, and to look at…15 Sept 2021HANSARD Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill (Sixth sitting)This particular element of the Bill does not deny people the ability to speak on anything, because as I have already stated, academic freedom is a subset of the broader term…15 Sept 2021HANSARD Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill (Sixth sitting)I can see what the Opposition are cleverly trying to do here to push me to go further than my words, but I am sure that the hon. Member will understand that the words that I am…15 Sept 2021HANSARD Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill (Sixth sitting)Amendments 32 to 34 and 69, taken together, seek to exempt providers and student unions from the duty to secure freedom of speech of persons who speak or intend to speak to deny…15 Sept 2021HANSARD Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill (Third sitting)Q This is a question for both of you. How do you think that we can best ensure an atmosphere on campus that allows difficult and controversial topics to be discussed while…13 Sept 2021HANSARD Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill (Third sitting)Q Thank you both for coming in. Professor Kaufmann, in the Policy Exchange paper you co-authored you recommended a statutory tort. I wanted to ask you why you think that that is…13 Sept 2021HANSARD Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill (Third sitting)Q Professor Kaufmann, did you want to come in on that? Professor Kaufmann: I am Canadian, and it is interesting to look at what has happened in the province of Ontario. Ontario…13 Sept 2021HANSARD Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill (Third sitting)Q My last question is to both of you. What is the biggest threat, as you perceive it, to freedom of speech in our universities? Professor Goodwin: I think there are multiple…13 Sept 2021HANSARD Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill (Third sitting)Q Your recent research suggests that more divisive voices and controversial issues are often amplified online. Do you agree that that influences how freely the majority of people…13 Sept 2021HANSARD Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill (Third sitting)Q I will ask just one more question, because I know that a number of Members want to come in. Do you agree that it is important to create an atmosphere on our campuses whereby…13 Sept 2021HANSARD Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill (Third sitting)Q Thank you for attending, Ms Dandridge. When considering the impact that the new director could have, we can look at the impact that the director for fair access and…13 Sept 2021