Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Government press release entitled Education to play a vital role in building belonging in divided communities, published on 9 September 2026, what assessment has been made of the ideological diversity of the expert advisory group.

The group has been established to provide expertise, experience and insight to support development of the Community Cohesion Framework. Members were selected on the basis of their relevant expertise and sectoral experience, rather than their ideological viewpoints. Membership includes representatives from the further and higher education sectors, as well as faith and student representatives.

The framework itself will be co-created with students and informed through extensive engagement with stakeholders. This engagement will include focus groups and other opportunities designed to ensure that a diverse range of students from different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives are able to contribute to its development. This will help ensure that the framework is practical, inclusive and reflective of the communities it is intended to support.