Daily roundup 19 February: Social mobility, Prince Harry, and cannabis

Poorer students will be locked out of more lucrative careers if Theresa May forces universities to cut fees for arts and social science courses, experts warn today. The Times reports that the Prime Minister will prepare the ground for cuts to the cost of courses with lower earning potential as she admits in a speech today that the current system is broken. However, her plans came under immediate attack, with the former education secretary Justine Greening saying they risked damaging social mobility.


Prince Harry has come under fire for reportedly criticising a "lack of strong leadership" over youth centre closures. The Sun reports that Harry spoke out against the shortage of half-term activities during a charity visit. The prince allegedly made his comments to Nary Wijeratne, founder of North West London charity Sport at the Heart, who said Harry told her there was not "a strong government" — though Kensington Palace strongly denied he said it.


Requests for a medical cannabis licence to help a boy whose rare form of epilepsy improved after taking the drug have been denied by the Home Office. The BBC reports that six-year-old Alfie Dingley, from Kenilworth in Warwickshire, suffers up to 30 violent seizures a day. His parents want to treat him with medical cannabis oil, which is illegal in the UK, but the Home Office said the drug "cannot be practically prescribed, administered or supplied to the public".


Scientists have taken the first steps towards what they say could become a new blood and urine test for autism. The BBC reports that a study tested children with and without the condition and found higher levels of protein damage in those with the disorder. The researchers said the tests could lead ultimately to the earlier detection of the condition, which can be difficult to diagnose.


Dozens of unregistered coaches may have been allowed to take charge of young rugby teams without fully completing child protection checks under the former head of the youth game in Scotland, it has emerged. The Scotsman reports that according to evidence given to an employment tribunal last week, Protecting Vulnerable Groups checks carried out by Disclosure Scotland under the former director of domestic rugby Keith Russell "drifted and were not taken as seriously as they should have been".


A nursery is facing an investigation after staff admitted using wrist straps to restrain children with special needs. The Daily Mail reports that Lamb Setts Montessori Nursery is set to be probed by Ofsted following concerns raised by several parents earlier this month. But the pre-school education outlet in the Mosborough area of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, said a "misunderstanding" was to blame.