Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether gagging clauses have been used in contracts drawn up between his Department and any charities, voluntary sector organisations, social enterprises or companies with the intention of stopping any criticism of Ministers of his Department.

The Department’s standard contract terms and conditions do not include so called gagging clauses.

The Department currently operates a devolved contracting model where policy teams are required to involve the central Commercial Directorate in all major procurements. All major projects use the standard terms and conditions.

The Commercial Directorate does not have details of contracts where they have not been involved. However, it is able to confirm that such clauses have not been used in any contract where they have been involved