Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the governance arrangements of the National Foundation for Educational Research.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)

The National Foundation for Educational Research is a leading provider of research and assessments in the UK. The department has no formal oversight or management relationship with them, and as such, has not made an assessment of the adequacy of their governance arrangements.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference pages 19-20 of StandWithUs' report entitled StandWithUs UK Report: Voice of Students 2024/25 Report, published in May 2025, if she will have discussions with the Vice Chancellor of Brunel University of London on (a) reported comments made to a Jewish student at that University and (b) that University's subsequent actions in response.

Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

This government condemns antisemitism in the strongest possible terms and we are actively taking steps to prevent and tackle it on campus, as in all parts of society. The antisemitic incidents detailed in StandWithUs UK’s report are wholly unacceptable and the wellbeing and safety of our Jewish students remains a priority.

Universities have a duty to protect freedom of speech and academic freedom within the law, but the department has been clear that this does not extend to unlawful hate speech or incitement of hatred against any individual or group.

It is important to recognise the efforts that university Vice Chancellors and their staff are making to foster cohesion on campuses across the country. However, as the StandWithUs UK report highlights, there is still more for us to do. That is why my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education is hosting a roundtable on antisemitism to which she has invited several leading Vice Chancellors, many whose students and universities are featured in StandWithUs UK’s testimonials, including Professor Andrew Jones, Vice Chancellor of Brunel, University of London. This will be an opportunity to discuss what more can be done collectively, and at all levels, to make our universities a safe and inclusive environment for all.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to hold discussions with university vice-chancellors in relation to the report by StandWithUs UK entitled Voice of Students 2024-25, published on 7 May 2025.

Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

This government condemns antisemitism in the strongest possible terms and we are actively taking steps to prevent and tackle it on campus, as in all parts of society. The antisemitic incidents detailed in StandWithUs UK’s report are wholly unacceptable and the wellbeing and safety of our Jewish students remains a priority.

Universities have a duty to protect freedom of speech and academic freedom within the law, but the department has been clear that this does not extend to unlawful hate speech or incitement of hatred against any individual or group.

It is important to recognise the efforts that university Vice Chancellors and their staff are making to foster cohesion on campuses across the country. However, as the StandWithUs UK report highlights, there is still more for us to do. That is why my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education is hosting a roundtable on antisemitism to which she has invited several leading Vice Chancellors, many whose students and universities are featured in StandWithUs UK’s testimonials, including Professor Andrew Jones, Vice Chancellor of Brunel, University of London. This will be an opportunity to discuss what more can be done collectively, and at all levels, to make our universities a safe and inclusive environment for all.

Mauritius Treaty

Found: _NC15 Ms Stella Creasy Greg Smith Richard Tice James MacCleary Ellie Chowns Stephen Gethins Llinos

Found: _NC40 David Simmonds Greg Smith .

Found: _NC5 Sir Iain Duncan Smith Mr Mark Francois Wendy Morton Greg Smith Carolyn Harris Dame Harriett

Found: _NC51 Greg Smith ★.

Found: _NC5 Sir Iain Duncan Smith Mr Mark Francois Wendy Morton Greg Smith Carolyn Harris Dame Harriett

Found: _NC5 Sir Iain Duncan Smith Mr Mark Francois Wendy Morton Greg Smith Carolyn Harris Dame Harriett

Found: _NC5 Sir Iain Duncan Smith Mr Mark Francois Wendy Morton Greg Smith Carolyn Harris Dame Harriett

Found: _NC5 Sir Iain Duncan Smith Mr Mark Francois Wendy Morton Greg Smith Carolyn Harris Dame Harriett

Found: _NC5 Sir Iain Duncan Smith Mr Mark Francois Wendy Morton Greg Smith Carolyn Harris Dame Harriett

Found: _NC5 Sir Iain Duncan Smith Mr Mark Francois Wendy Morton Greg Smith Carolyn Harris Dame Harriett

Found: _NC5 Sir Iain Duncan Smith Mr Mark Francois Wendy Morton Greg Smith Carolyn Harris Dame Harriett

Found: _NC5 Sir Iain Duncan Smith Mr Mark Francois Wendy Morton Greg Smith Carolyn Harris Dame Harriett