Academic Freedom
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to defend the right to free speech on university campuses.
Answered by Janet Daby
This government is absolutely committed to freedom of speech and academic freedom in universities. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, confirmed to Parliament on 15 January the government’s plans for the future of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023, which will create a more proportionate, balanced and less burdensome approach to protecting academic freedom and freedom of speech.
On 28 April, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State signed commencement regulations, bringing the following provisions into force from 1 August 2025:
- Strengthened higher education (HE) provider duties in relation to securing freedom of speech, academic freedom and promoting the importance of freedom of speech and academic freedom.
- A requirement for HE providers to put in place effective codes of practice on freedom of speech and academic freedom.
- A ban of non-disclosure agreements in HE for staff and students where there is a complaint about bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct.
- A requirement for the Office for Students to promote free speech, and enable it to give advice and guidance on it.
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