Universities should be removed from a list of institutions required by forthcoming terror laws to crack down on extremism, a parliamentary watchdog will recommend today.

The joint committee on human rights said that government plans to impose a statutory obligation on universities to prevent people being drawn into terrorism are riddled with legal uncertainty and will stifle genuine academic debate.

Concerns were also raised by plans to temporarily block British nationals from returning to Britain if they are suspected of engaging in terrorist activity overseas, with the MPs and peers warning that the human rights of some citizens could be violated.

The measures are outlined in the Counter Terrorism and Security Bill, which is due for its second Lords reading tomorrow.