Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with universities about threats to freedom of speech, including in light of the disruption of a lecture by Adam Wagner KC at City St George's, University of London on 15 October; and what further action they will take, if any, to protect academic freedom of speech and ensure students are able to attend lectures without experiencing threats or intimidation.

I and officials in the department have met higher education providers and representative bodies on a number of occasions to discuss the importance of protecting freedom of speech and academic freedom on campus.

Universities should be places for students to hear from a range of people and on different topics, and students should not be able to disrupt or cancel lawful speech because they disagree with it. The Office for Students’ (OfS) ‘Regulatory Advice 24’ is clear that providers should take steps to restrict protests which amount to a ‘heckler’s veto’ and which prevent teaching, debate or discussion from taking place.

The OfS, as independent regulator, will have powers from 1 April 2027 to monitor compliance with the free speech duties and investigate potential breaches. Visiting speakers who believe a higher education provider has not met its free speech duties can also make complaints to the OfS free speech complaints scheme.