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The Government's review of higher education came under Labour Party fire this week for failing to tackle such key issues as management and accountability.

The Department for Education has launched the review by putting three questions to institutions, teaching unions, students and business leaders on the purpose of higher education and its future size and shape.

Tim Boswell, further and higher education minister, said funding would be addressed later. Bryan Davies, Labour's further and higher education spokesman, has called on Mr Boswell to widen the review to include an examination of governing structures in the light of "sleaze" allegations.

"A review of higher education which does not look carefully at the systems of governance of institutions, which appear to be failing to ensure accountability in some cases such as Huddersfield and Portsmouth, will ignore one of the most pressing issues," he said.

Portsmouth University has announced an independent inquiry into its vice chancellor's expenses and the sacking of his deputy. Union leaders claimed the move was to defuse a no-confidence ballot taken on Wednesday.