Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions she has had with universities on reports of discussions on handling students' Gaza protests with BAE Systems.

The department and the Office for Students (OfS) are aware of reports relating to discussions between universities and BAE Systems on student protests.

Universities are responsible for ensuring that their disciplinary, security and governance arrangements are lawful, and that their duties to secure freedom of speech within the law, including lawful protest, are met. Decisions affecting lawful speech or protest should be reached independently, proportionately and in accordance with the law.

The government believes that both BAE Systems and other defence companies should be welcomed onto campuses on occasions such as careers fairs and that students and staff have the right to protest lawfully about their activity.