Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
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 - Shadow Minister (Work and Pensions)
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.
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of protection of freedom of speech at universities, following the violent disruption at the King's College London Libertarian Society meeting on 5 March.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Shadow Minister (Work and Pensions)
Hatred, discrimination and violence have no place on our campuses. Universities have a clear responsibility under the Equality Act 2010 to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation, and to foster good relations between those who share protected characteristics, such as race or religion, and those who do not.
Free speech is protected in universities by law and plays a crucial role in generating rigorous debate, advancing understanding and allowing students to challenge conventional wisdom and discuss controversial subjects. Under the Education (No 2) Act 1986, universities have a duty to ‘take reasonably practicable steps to ensure freedom of speech for staff, students and visiting speakers,’ and this includes having a free speech code of practice. The Higher Education and Research Act 2017 extends this duty to all providers registered with the Office for Students (OfS).
The OfS will have an important role to play in championing free speech. Under our proposals they would also have a range of levers to intervene where issues arise. A principle relating to freedom of speech is also included in the recently published regulatory framework for OfS, see attached.
This government remains committed to freedom of speech within the law – this does not include hate speech, incitement to violence or terrorism. We expect universities to take appropriate action, including involving law enforcement if necessary, in response to incidents such as those at Kings College on 5 March 2018.
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the impact of the abolition of maintenance grants on university students from disadvantaged backgrounds, and (2) the report from the Sutton Trust, Home and Away, which found that students who cannot afford to live away from home while at university are disadvantaged in terms of social mobility.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Shadow Minister (Work and Pensions)
The government published the attached equality analysis, in November 2015, which sets out the impact of the abolition of maintenance grants on protected and disadvantaged groups of students.
We are seeing record rates of 18 year olds, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds, entering full-time higher education. Our new reforms to higher education will go further to ensure the system is offering more choice and value for money for all students.
We have increased support for full-time students’ living costs by 2.8% in 2017/18 to £8,430 a year for eligible full-time students from households with low incomes who live away from home and study outside London – the highest ever amount.
The Sutton Trust’s report provides helpful insight into the experience of students who choose not to relocate for study. This is why government’s review of post-18 education and funding will consider how we can encourage and support learning that is more flexible for students, including commuter study options.
The review will also consider what more can be done through the financial support available to widen access to university for disadvantaged students, including making sure that the right maintenance support is available
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of the US in relation to its proposal to cut funding of the Fulbright Program by 47 per cent.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Shadow Minister (Work and Pensions)
The Fulbright programme provides important opportunities for education exchanges between the UK and the US. We have received no communication from the US government to inform us of any proposal to cut funding of the Fulbright Programme.
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
Her Majesty's Government what is their response to the conclusion by the Equality and Human Rights Commission review published on 3 April, Being disabled in Britain: a journey less equal, that disabled people are under-represented as elected political representatives; and when they intend to bring into force section 106 of the Equality Act 2010 requiring political parties to publish diversity data about their candidates.
Answered by Lord Nash
The number of Members of the other place identifying as disabled has increased in the recent election compared to that of 2015, which I welcome.
The Government is considering Section 106 of the Equality Act 2010 as part of its wider consideration of the report, ‘Women in the House of Commons after the 2020 election’, published by the former Women and Equalities Select Committee earlier this year. We will be responding to this report as soon as possible in the new Parliament.
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of methods of recovery of student loans from overseas students.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Shadow Minister (Work and Pensions)
The Student Loans Company publishes an annual statistical first release on student loans in England that provides statistics on loan outlays, repayment of loans and borrower activity. The latest release is attached.
In addition to this, in February 2016 the Department published a Joint Repayment Strategy which includes an assessment of actions to trace borrowers and to recover loans where avoidance or evasion is identified. This publication isalso attached.