The group, which will be led by Brunel's vice-chancellor, Professor Steven Schwartz, is being set up to ensure access to university is fair - and that universities try to encourage poorer students to apply.

It will draw up a set of principles universities should follow when they set out their admissions criteria.

The taskforce will also check whether universities are following the principles and will "aim to reinforce public confidence in the fairness and transparency of admission arrangements".

But the government insists universities will keep control of the admissions process and will not be set targets on the number of poorer students admitted.

Openness

Education Secretary Charles Clarke said: "Admissions to universities are a matter for universities themselves and generally they operate in a fair way.

"However, the sector could benefit from a set of guiding principles that could bring some transparency and openness to admissions policy.

"Professor Schwartz has assembled a strong and diverse team who will identify good practice and recommend a set of guiding principles which I hope all universities will adopt."

The taskforce's establishment comes in the wake of continued accusations of bias in university admissions - both for and against state-school pupils.

Independent schools recently attacked Bristol University, claiming it was discriminating against their pupils in favour of those from state-schools. Bristol denied the claims.

Those on the taskforce are: