University access tsar will be monitored – Minister

David Willetts, the universities minister, has promised that the new controversial access tsar will be monitored by a parliamentary select committee and "called to account" for his decisions, reports The Telegraph.

Business Secretary Vince Cable defied many senior Conservative critics and the business select committee to appoint Professor Les Ebdon as director of the Office for Fair Access (Offa). Last week Willetts endorsed the appointment but said Ebdon would be watched.

“Les Ebdon will not be constructing a new higher education policy. The select committee are able to call him back and call him to account," he told Radio 4's Today programme. Ebdon will take up the key role as director of Offa later this year, charged with ensuring that working-class students are not deterred by tuition fees of up to £9,000 (US$14,125), Cable announced. As director of Offa, Ebdon will have the power to fine universities £500,000 or ban them from charging tuition fees of more than £6,000 a year.
Full report on The Telegraph site