Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

NDAs: Universities

29 June 2022 · 1 other contributor · 4,121 words

Opened by Layla Moran Lib Dem Oxford West and Abingdon

Responding minister: Michelle Donelan

Education

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Layla Moran raised concerns about ndas: universities in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • The use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) in universities has had a significant emotional and psychological impact on survivors of sexual assault and harassment.
  • The Minister thanked the hon. Member for raising the issue and highlighted that sixty-seven institutions have pledged not to use NDAs in cases of sexual harassment, bullying, and abuse.
  • The Government has asked the Office for Students to work on a new condition of registration that would sanction providers failing to take seriously their duties regarding NDAs with fines and suspensions.

Key requests to Government

The Minister should expedite work by the Office for Students to regulate bad behaviour in universities and provide concrete actions against NDAs. The Government should support a private Member's Bill aimed at banning forced NDAs and include such language in the victims Bill to amplify victims' voices.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Layla Moran Lib Dem Oxford West and Abingdon

The use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) in universities has had a significant emotional and psychological impact on survivors of sexual assault and harassment. The issue is not with the no-contact agreements themselves, but rather the coercive nature of NDAs that accompany them, leaving students feeling powerless to negotiate or refuse due to their vulnerability.

Other contributors (1)
  • Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

    Universities across the United Kingdom are aware of the issues surrounding non-disclosure agreements but have failed to implement necessary safeguards, despite repeated discussions on this matter.

Government Response

Michelle Donelan

I thank the hon. Member for Oxford West and Abingdon for securing this vital debate on an issue I am personally passionate about. Sixty-seven institutions have signed up to a pledge not to use NDAs in cases of sexual harassment, bullying and other forms of abuse, protecting more than 1 million students. The Government has asked the Office for Students to work on a new condition of registration that would sanction providers failing to take seriously their duties including on NDAs with fines, suspension or deregistration as a university. Universities are urged to sign up to the pledge to spearhead a cultural shift against the misuse of NDAs in sexual harassment cases.

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