MP's anger over university decline

MP Helen Jones has expressed her outrage over a sharp decline in the number of young people from her constituency applying for degree courses at university.
The Warrington North MP (pictured) says she has unearthed figures which show that last year there was a 16 per cent drop in the number of young people applying for courses through UCAS compared with 2010.
She said: “Young people in my constituency are suffering due to a series of government failures.
“First they scrapped Education Maintenance Allowance, which has meant that many young people can no longer afford to access further education.
Then they increased university tuition fees to £9,000 a year, meaning that even fewer people can continue their education.
“This is restricting opportunities for young people in Warrington North at a time when qualifications are needed more than ever.”
Further evidence has shown that young people in the town are being let down by the government’s failure to get more young people into education, training or work, Ms Jones added.
Young women are being disproportionately affected.
Research from the Young Women’s Trust has revealed that an estimated 18 per cent of the 18-24 population in Warrington North are not in education, employment or training (NEET)- and 56 per cent of these are young women.
The MP added: “These figures are very worrying. Research has shown that young people who are classed as NEET are at serious risk of living in poverty or on low pay for the rest of their lives. Their confidence can also take a huge hit and they can become depressed and anxious about their futures.
“The government has a duty to ensure help is available for young people wanting to continue their education, find work, or train. It is about time they start acting.”