OXFORD and Cambridge were criticised by a Government minister today for failing to give enough places to working class students.

Higher education minister Bill Rammell said the two ancient institutions take only one in ten of their students from working class backgrounds.

There is "no excuse" for any university to "wash its hands" of the need to help more students from poor homes get degrees, he said.

Overall, only 20 per cent of pupils from lower income groups finish school and go on to university.

One in five students in the Russell Group of leading research universities come from lower social groups, Mr Rammell said.

"And at Oxford and Cambridge, it's one in ten," he said.

"I know the causes for that inequality of opportunity are complex and not confined to universities' admissions policies.

"There's work that must be done in schools as well and, as a Government, we're doing it.

"But that's no excuse for any university to wash its hands of the problem."

Mr Rammell's remarks represented a rare decision by the Government to criticise Oxford and Cambridge by name.