As a connexions employee I can tell you that we ARE an independant service and that the conservative idea would not be any different to what we do. The service has done much to improve since changing from careers only.
The simple fact we have to tell apprentices is that the colleges won't take them on eithr, they have to have employer backing beyond a certain level or they won't get experience to go into employment ever. The conservatives should speak ot the people doing the job. Most of our young people are not capable of a-levels at all never mind higher education. Education having consistantly let them down for years gives them no hope.