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Universities: Statutory Duty of Care
13 January 2026
Lead MP
James Naish
Rushcliffe
Lab
Responding Minister
Josh MacAlister
Tags
NHS
Word Count: 13017
Other Contributors: 20
At a Glance
James Naish raised concerns about universities: statutory duty of care in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
The debate asks whether the health, wellbeing and safety responsibilities that universities owe to their students are sufficiently clear, consistent and enforceable under current legal frameworks.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
The debate follows an e-petition with 128,000 signatures and discusses the mental health struggles at universities. Over the past decade, the proportion of students disclosing mental health conditions to their university has risen sharply from under 1% in 2010 to nearly 6% in 2022-23. The Office for National Statistics reports an average of 160 suicides among higher education students in England and Wales each year between 2016 and 2023.
Afzal Khan
Lab
Manchester Rusholme
The cost of living has increased mental health issues among students and caused many to consider dropping out due to financial pressures.
Alex Sobel
Lab/Co-op
Leeds Central and Headingley
Supports the call for a statutory duty of care to bring universities on par with hospitals, schools, and employers, emphasizing that this would ensure consistent support services across institutions.
Ann Davies
PC
Caerfyrddin
Emphasises that lack of investment in public services can lead to tragic consequences for students with mental health issues or who have been sexually abused, advocating for better support through increased resources and funding.
Daniel Zeichner
Lab
Cambridge
Asked about the inconsistency in relationships between universities and local health services.
Scott Arthur
Lab
Edinburgh South West
Supports the need for clearer statutory duties that would benefit universities by reducing uncertainty and providing a shared sector-wide benchmark for assessing wellbeing and safety interventions.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Provided a Northern Ireland perspective, noting the high percentage of Northern Irish students studying elsewhere and the increasing concern for young people's mental health.
Welcomed the intervention of Danny Beales, highlighting the work done by the higher education mental health implementation taskforce and the appointment of Professor Sir Steve West as the new student support champion.
Katie Lam
Con
Weald of Kent
Discussed the importance of pastoral care in university choices for parents and highlighted transparency about support provision.
Kerry McCarthy
Lab
Bristol East
Concerned about the difficult position universities face regarding parental involvement in student issues, noting students have a right to privacy. Questions the current legal framework that relies on litigation for clarity. McCarthy supports Juss's argument and highlights concerns about relying on disability discrimination laws when mental health issues may not have been formally diagnosed.
Lizzi Collinge
Lab
Morecambe and Lunesdale
Shares a case of Oskar, a student at Sheffield Hallam University who took his own life due to university's failure to provide support or notify parents despite explicit consent. Argues for a statutory duty of care in universities.
Llinos Medi
PC
Ynys Môn
Her constituents lost their daughter Mared Foulkes to suicide due to incorrect exam results, highlighting the need for a statutory duty of care to prevent such tragedies.
Mary Kelly Foy
Lab
City of Durham
The Member raises concerns about the increasing number of students disclosing mental health conditions and the need for a statutory duty of care to ensure consistent support across institutions. However, she emphasises the importance of adequate funding alongside such legislation.
Gregory Campbell
DUP
East Londonderry
Emphasised the need for clarity in any statutory duty of care and suggested that it should not impose an extreme burden on universities, aiming for a win-win situation for students and their parents.
Nick Timothy
Con
West Suffolk
Responded on behalf of the Opposition, congratulating James Naish on leading the debate and acknowledging the tragic stories that have informed it. He highlighted the need for consistent safeguarding and care across universities. Agreed that the issue is not always about funding but often requires proper structures, policies, and cultural change within universities to address student mental health needs.
Peter Prinsley
Lab
Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket
Pointed out that there appears to be no statutory duty of care for medical students outside their university settings, particularly concerning issues like sexual harassment.
Phil Brickell
Lab
Bolton West
Focuses on allegations of fraud at the University of Greater Manchester and questions the delay in regulatory action by the Office for Students, raising concerns about governance and student welfare. Asked if the taskforce would look at the effectiveness of the Office for Students (OfS) in driving better student outcomes and preventing harm.
Sadik Al-Hassan
Lab
North Somerset
Pharmacy professionals express grief over the loss of a promising pharmacist due to incorrect exam results, underscoring the importance of addressing such issues comprehensively. Shared a constituent's story about his son Max, who lost his life to suicide while studying at university, urging that there is a crisis of care in universities and the need for a funded statutory duty of care.
Pushed the Minister to ensure consistency across organisations without a statutory approach, citing issues like incorrect exam results and failures to act on appropriate consent. Emphasised the gap between public expectation and reality leading to loss of trust in institutions.
Tom Hayes
Lab
Bournemouth East
Acknowledges the importance of education in opening doors for young people and highlights Bournemouth University's commitment to zero suicides. Emphasizes the need for clear guidelines on statutory duty of care implementation and regulatory oversight, alongside addressing funding shortfalls.
Warinder Juss
Lab
Wolverhampton West
Noted the absence of a duty of care by universities to students compared to other institutions such as workplaces and prisons. Highlights the fact that a student takes their own life every four days in England and Wales over the past decade, stressing the need for action from parliamentarians to address this issue effectively. Juss argues that the current lack of a duty of care for adult students is unfair and requests a statutory duty similar to those in workplaces, colleges, prisons, hospitals, and schools. Emphasised the need for proper structures, policies, and accountability in universities rather than just funding. Highlighted Natasha Abrahart's case.
Government Response
Josh MacAlister
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education
Government Response
Acknowledged the profound pain felt by families who have lost loved ones in higher education. Commended the tireless work of campaigners and organisations like LEARN Network to drive change. Emphasised the need for safer campuses, better support for students, and improvement in student health and wellbeing. The Government are extending the higher education mental health implementation taskforce, which brings together students, families, and the sector to challenge institutions on improving student mental health services. The taskforce will explore effective mechanisms for holding universities accountable. The Minister highlighted existing statutory obligations under the Equality Act and concerns about introducing a special statutory duty for higher education providers.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.