Conservatives would offer scholarships to forces children

The scheme, which is expected to cost about £1.5 million a year, will also apply to children of the 588 military personnel killed since 1990.

The £8,210 university grants would pay living costs of £5,000 and tuition fees. Further education scholarships would also fund college fees and costs when not covered by other entitlements.

Shadow chancellor George Osborne said the scholarships will be funded from the existing £455m annual Widening Participation budget. "These university and college scholarships will provide financial help for the families of fallen servicemen and women - and will be a lasting tribute to their bravery and sacrifice," he said.

Monique Bateman, director of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Children's Fund, welcomed the policy but said she would like to see it extended.

"It's a good first step, but I'm hoping for more than this. What about the children of those who have been seriously injured and have had to give up their careers? These days, when you want to find funding for university, if one parent is injured or dead, you need more support."

She also said that not enough information was given about the further education scholarships: "We need to know what the detail of that is as well."