White working class teenage boys are disadvantaged when it comes to university applications, the universities minister believes.

David Willetts told the Independent newspaper that action should be considered to give them special treatment.

Speaking to the Today programme, Mr Willetts said: "It's certainly the case that we do have a real problem of under-performance by boys, and within that it looks like it's boys from poorer backgrounds.

"There is a shocking waste of talent of some young people who could really benefit from going to university."

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