CONSERVATIVE
New Forest East

EDUCATION – VIETNAM AND LINACRE COLLEGE, OXFORD - 13 June 2022

EDUCATION – VIETNAM AND LINACRE COLLEGE, OXFORD - 13 June 2022

Dr Julian Lewis: I appreciate that the provision is mainly about free speech in UK universities, but does the Minister share my concern about the proposed £155 million gift from the billionaire chairwoman of a Vietnamese company to Linacre College, Oxford, a distinguished graduate college, on condition that the name of the college is changed to that of the chairwoman? Her company is extremely close to the Vietnamese Communist Government, where there is certainly very little freedom of speech. The Privy Council has to approve the change. Are the Government taking a view on the matter?

[The Minister for Higher and Further Education (Michelle Donelan): I have recently been alerted to this issue and I am actively investigating it. I will update my right hon. Friend in coming days. ...]