内容摘要：A high level of measles vaccination is vital as it prevents transmission of the virus and protects not just those who receive the jab, but those who can't – young babies and children with weakened immune systems, for example.

A high level of measles vaccination is vital as it prevents transmission of the virus and protects not just those who receive the jab, but those who can't – young babies and children with weakened immune systems, for example.

“The system at the moment assumes that students from better-off backgrounds are getting support from their parents. It’s not always true that those students do get that support,” says Kate Ogden.“The trade-offs are really difficult for government and there aren’t any easy answers here.

“Lots of universities are struggling and they’ll be looking for some extra support from government.”Caught between universities desperate for money, and families worried about the cost of going to university, the government may end up pleasing no-one.Upcoming changes to stamp duty will "motivate" first-time buyers to buy a property, according to the Halifax.

The average price of a UK home ended 2024 close to the £300,000 mark, the UK's biggest mortgage broker said.Its calculations suggested UK house prices increased by 3.3% when comparing the end of the year to the start, although the average value dipped slightly in December.

It means the average home now costs £297,166, it added.

In April, house buyers in England and Northern Ireland will start paying stamp duty on properties over £125,000, instead of over £250,000 at the moment.All of this comes as the government considers what to do about university funding in England from 2026, in a review likely to conclude next year.

The OfS report acknowledges that the scale of change needed will not be easy.Vivienne Stern, chief executive of Universities UK, which represents 140 institutions, says universities are already "making tough choices to control costs", adding that the sector "needs to continue evolving".

She says the size of the challenge "is a source of serious concern".The University of East Anglia (UEA) in Norwich has cut £30m in the last 18 months - almost 10% of its annual spending.