Student land army

SIR – Every year about half a million new students start university courses. This is about the same number as the current labour shortfall in Britain’s agricultural sector (Letters, June 14).

While not advocating conscription, could we not encourage – perhaps with reduced university fees – these fit young people to take a gap year to fill these vacancies?

This would also help to eliminate the chaos and stress associated with the current admissions process, as candidates would have a much longer period to sort everything out. It may also give them an interesting insight into real working environments. David Bousted

Houghton Conquest, Bedfordshire