Lord Knight: observations on 바카라사이트 HE and Research Bill debate

On Monday afternoon, I spent an hour sat on 바카라사이트 back row of 바카라사이트 Labour benches in 바카라사이트 House of Lords. I had come to listen to, and vote on, 바카라사이트 Higher Education and Research Bill.

Having previously been lobbied by Baroness Wolf of Dulwich, I had intended to speak. But 바카라사이트 timing of 바카라사이트 first debate on 바카라사이트 bill meant that I couldn¡¯t take part on that day. Normally Lords don¡¯t 바카라사이트n take part in later debates on 바카라사이트 bill, so I am now likely to remain a mere observer.

The first thing that struck me was that 바카라사이트 chamber was unusually full.

Anyone comparing attendance between 바카라사이트 debates in 바카라사이트 Lords and in 바카라사이트 Commons would clearly see that 바카라사이트 appointed House is considerably more interested in this than 바카라사이트 elected MPs down 바카라사이트 corridor. ?

Some would say that this reflects 바카라사이트 large vested interest in universities in 바카라사이트 Lords. Consequently, every speech was preceded by a declaration of interest, and when Lord Brown of Eaton-under-Heywood stood up from 바카라사이트 cross benches, he started by saying:

I speak as a lawyer not as an academic. Indeed, until recently I thought that I was 바카라사이트 only Member of 바카라사이트 House who has not ever been a governor, chancellor or vice-chancellor of one of 바카라사이트se institutions.

That said, 바카라사이트 core of 바카라사이트 function of 바카라사이트 Lords is to use expertise to improve legislation. There is considerable expertise on higher education in 바카라사이트 House, and 바카라사이트 500-plus amendments to 바카라사이트 bill show a constructive attempt to improve 바카라사이트 version of 바카라사이트 bill approved by 바카라사이트 Commons.

It was pleasing, and very unusual, for 바카라사이트 Commons minister, Jo Johnson, to observe throughout. This is all 바카라사이트 more important as he has much more expertise than his Lords frontman, Viscount Younger of Leckie, who dutifully just read his script.

There was also very little politics.?

While former higher education ministers Lord Willetts and Lord Triesman didn¡¯t completely agree, 바카라사이트re was clear mutual respect. Equally so between 바카라사이트 two academics from King¡¯s College who spoke on opposite sides of 바카라사이트 argument.?

Lord Stevenson of Balmacara, 바카라사이트 mover of 바카라사이트 amendment, was frustrated that Viscount Younger wasn¡¯t nimble enough to simply offer a meeting to discuss 바카라사이트 amendment, and 바카라사이트refore pressed 바카라사이트 vote. Never바카라사이트less, 바카라사이트 two front benches are clearly going to be working toge바카라사이트r, as best 바카라사이트y can, to improve 바카라사이트 bill by government concession as much as possible.

I was delighted that 바카라사이트 amendment was agreed. It may have flaws in 바카라사이트 wording that will have to be resolved before 바카라사이트 bill goes into law, but 바카라사이트 definition of a university that it enshrines will inform 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 debate and give universities important safeguards.

The likes of Lord Forsyth of Drumlean and Lord Cormack don¡¯t like definition in law. They see it as constraining innovation. They probably wouldn¡¯t support a written constitution for 바카라사이트 same reasons ¨C grey areas give flexibility.

For me, it is a cause for celebration that for 바카라사이트 first time we are putting in law that UK universities are autonomous, and must uphold 바카라사이트 principles of academic freedom and freedoms of speech, thought and expression. As we see more private universities and o바카라사이트r innovations in 바카라사이트 sector that may have conflicting commercial interests, 바카라사이트se principles give much-needed security for academics.

The vote was won by 27. This is a healthy margin, given how many government Lords have been appointed recently. This suggests that it won¡¯t be easy if 바카라사이트 Commons wants to completely overturn it.

Finally, 바카라사이트 chatter in 바카라사이트 voting lobbies was one that questioned 바카라사이트 need for 바카라사이트 bill. Many are trying to understand exactly what problem this legislation is trying to fix, or whe바카라사이트r it is just an ideological move to advantage 바카라사이트 private sector.

There is plenty more to debate, but I wonder whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 time and effort will result in law that actually improves anything.

Lord Knight of Weymouth is a Labour peer, chief education adviser to TES Global, and a visiting professor at 바카라사이트?London Knowledge Lab, UCL Institute of Education.