asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will inform universities and similar organisations receiving public funding of their policy that the recognition on campus of Officers Training Corps is a matter for the governing bodies of such institutions and may not be delegated to student organisations. [HL2520]

We fully support the work of the Officer Training Corps and the vital contribution it makes to university life and wider society. We fully endorse their presence on campus.

Although HEIs are independent autonomous organisations, their governing bodies are aware of their relevant legal responsibilities in this area which are as follows:

Section 43 of the Education (No 2) Act 1986 provides that those involved in the government of an institution in the higher education sector or the further education sector must take reasonably practicable steps to ensure that freedom of speech within the law is secured for members, students, employees and visiting speakers. This includes the duty to ensure so far as is reasonably practicable that use of the establishment's premises is not denied to anyone on the grounds of their beliefs, views, policy or objectives.

The duty under Section 43 includes the duty to ensure (so far as is reasonably practicable) that the use of the premises is not denied to any individual or body on grounds connected with the beliefs or views of the individual or body or the policy or objectives of the individual or body.

HEIs have to have a code of practice on the organisation of meetings and other activities to take place on their premises. They then have to take such steps etc to ensure that the code is complied with.

In addition to this the Education Act 1994 requires university governing bodies to take such steps as reasonably practicable to ensure the student union operates in a fair and democratic manner—we would expect them to do so in these cases or any others.

Governing bodies should ensure that they are fulfilling their duty to uphold these legal requirements.