Examination of Witnesses

Part of Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill – in a Public Bill Committee am 10:31 am ar 7 Medi 2021.

Danfonwch hysbysiad imi am ddadleuon fel hyn

Photo of Emma Hardy Emma Hardy Llafur, Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle 10:31, 7 Medi 2021

Q I would like to return the focus to what is written in the Bill, rather than to re-argue the Second Reading arguments on the merits of whether we should have a Bill or not. Professor Nigel, you wrote in the evidence you gave us, that as the Bill is written,

“it fails to protect expressly the freedom of students and academics to voice critical opinions about their own universities”.

You highlight the concern around the narrowing of academics to their field of expertise. Could you expand on why, as the Bill is written, what we could have is a narrowing of that freedom of academic speech?