§ 47. Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the latest discussions he has had concerning the maintenance of free speech in universities and polytechnics.
§ Mr. WaldenPursuant to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend on 1 July, at column 474, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State wrote on 7 August inviting the bodies concerned to seek a further meeting with officials to discuss freedom of speech before the resumption on 21 October of the Report stage of the Education Bill. A response to that invitation was received only on 17 October and a meeting with officials took place yesterday. In addition, on 16 October my hon. Friend the Minister of State discussed with representatives of the Catholic Education Council and the Church of England Board of Education the bearing of the proposed legislation on the voluntary colleges.