Higher education statement

Business Secretary Lord Mandelson launched his 10-year strategy for higher education in the Lords on 3 November, declaring: "There should be no artificial caps on talent."

He told peers that all students must continue to be selected on merit and the government would look at ways of improving access to the most selective universities.

In a statement that was broadly welcomed by opposition parties, Lord Mandelson said he would be asking universities to focus on skills areas where the supply of graduates was not meeting demand.

But he stressed that no decisions had yet been made on changes to the limits on tuition fees.