Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the number of higher education providers under investigation by the Office for Students relating to breaches of (a) academic freedom and (b) freedom of speech in June 2023.

The Office for Students (OfS) is the independent regulator of higher education in England and is an arm’s length body. The OfS have confirmed that they are conducting an investigation in relation to freedom of speech and academic freedom; however, their investigations are normally confidential. Any decisions to publish information about their investigation is a matter for the OfS.