Contributions
755 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill (Third sitting)Q What routes could students, staff and visiting speakers currently take if they wished to raise with the OfS a concern about a provider with regard to free speech? Nicola…13 Sept 2021HANSARD Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill (Third sitting)Q So as the body dedicated to students, in essence, would you say that you are constrained at the moment in assisting students with issues of free speech? Nicola Dandridge: The…13 Sept 2021HANSARD Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill (Fourth sitting)Q The Committee has heard evidence from a number of people who have said that their individual academic freedom, or that of their colleagues and, potentially, their students, has…13 Sept 2021HANSARD Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill (Fourth sitting)Q I have just one more question. What more do you think universities could do to promote free speech? Professor Grant: What we did at King’s was work with our student union in…13 Sept 2021HANSARD Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill (Fourth sitting)Q Danny, you have previously raised concerns about a lack of consistency in the duties on higher education providers, in that they do not apply to student unions—something that…13 Sept 2021HANSARD Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill (Fourth sitting)Q Do you think Jewish students feel comfortable reporting incidents where they may have had their freedom of speech inhibited? Danny Stone: I think it depends on the institution…13 Sept 2021HANSARD Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill (Fourth sitting)Q Thank you. Hillary, in the past you have said that there is a freedom of speech problem on our campuses. Can you explain why you said that? Was it from personal experience?…13 Sept 2021HANSARD Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill (Fourth sitting)It is from one of the documents we have from a while ago. Hillary Gyebi-Ababio: Sure. I cannot recall exactly when I said that—apologies—but to speak to the background of the…13 Sept 2021HANSARDPrevailing Market RatesI am announcing today a temporary reduction in the maximum student loan interest rate following the recent decline in the prevailing market rate for comparable unsecured personal…09 Sept 2021HANSARD Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill (First sitting)Q I have a question to both of you, following up on the earlier questions. The existing legislation ensures that there is a duty to protect free speech and this legislation goes…07 Sept 2021HANSARD Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill (First sitting)Q I have one final question to Dr Ahmed. At Cambridge, you successfully put forward the amendment, which I am sure everybody around the table is aware of, altering the requirement…07 Sept 2021HANSARD Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill (First sitting)Q Professor Stock, do you want to come in? Professor Stock: I echo that. I think it was implicit in my earlier answer, that one of the attractive things about this Bill is the…07 Sept 2021HANSARD Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill (First sitting)Q Dr Ahmed, you have previously discussed a soft censorship approach. Can you explain what that is and the impact that you think it will have or that it is having on universities?…07 Sept 2021HANSARD Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill (First sitting)Thank you, Sir Christopher. I beg to move, That— 1. the Committee shall (in addition to its first meeting at 9.25 am on Tuesday 7 September) meet— (a) at 2.00 pm on Tuesday 7…07 Sept 2021HANSARD Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill (Second sitting)Q Do you think that breaches of the current duties are going under the radar? What impact do you think they are having on individuals? That is what Bill is intending to impact—it…07 Sept 2021HANSARD Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill (Second sitting)Q We have heard a great deal that is counter to your view about this notion that you can achieve this without legislation and that you can achieve that cultural change. What would…07 Sept 2021HANSARD Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill (Second sitting)Q What importance do you place on the role of the director, which this legislation will create? Thomas Simpson: As I read the Bill, and certainly I suppose in my vision, the…07 Sept 2021HANSARD Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill (Second sitting)Q Some commentators have said that legislation is not the answer. What is your response to that point? Thomas Simpson: I think they underestimate the power of law to shape…07 Sept 2021HANSARD Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill (Second sitting)Q And will this legislation address that, in your opinion? Thomas Simpson: It provides the best means that we have got of addressing it. Whether it will succeed or not, I do not…07 Sept 2021HANSARD Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill (Second sitting)Q What do you think is the main threat to academic freedom as things currently stand? Thomas Simpson: The main threat is the chilling effect.07 Sept 2021