Tackling the problem of the large number of young people not in employment, education or training looks likely to be a priority for the new coalition Government.

Liberal Democrat Vince Cable, above, is now at the helm of the Department for Business Innovation and Skills, where he will be working closely with Conservative David Willetts, the Minister for Universities and Science. Willetts spent the past three years as Shadow Secretary for Innovation, Universities and Skills and will already be very familiar with the key issues.

Professor Steve Smith, president of Universities UK, which represents the higher education sector, says: “David Willetts brings to this role a wealth of experience and a genuine understanding of higher education. He has worked hard to ensure a deep understanding of the needs of staff and students.”

In their election manifestos, the Conservatives and Lib Dems both spoke of a commitment to creating a broader range of training opportunities. The Lib Dems criticised the last government’s “arbitrary” target of getting 50 per cent of young people into university, saying that they would focus instead on a balance of college education, vocational training and apprenticeships.

A Conservative pledge to provide 10,000 extra university places will be up for discussion. The Lib Dems would prefer to create more foundation degree places, which combine academic study with workplace learning. Other Conservative pledges included improving careers advice services and introducing an early repayment bonus on student loans.

The issue of tuition fees will be a sticking point. Lib Dems had campaigned heavily on their pledge to scrap tuition fees and are likely to have won student votes. The Conservatives’ official line was that they were waiting for the outcome of Lord Browne of Madingley’s review of higher education funding, expected to report in the autumn. That message was reiterated in the first official coalition document, which also suggested that Lib Dem MPs would be able to save face by abstaining from any vote on tuition fees “if the response of the Government to Lord Browne’s report is one that [they] cannot accept”.

We can also expect the new Government to keep a close eye on the student finance system, which was beset with problems last autumn. Willetts will be keen to avoid a repeat of the disaster, which saw some students waiting months for their loans.
Rachel Potter