Ministers will retain the government’s much-criticised careers service for young people, in spite of a pledge expected on Monday from Ed Balls, the schools secretary, of “a radical change” in the way advice on jobs is delivered to schoolchildren.

Mr Balls’ decision to continue the Connexions service sets him in direct opposition to the influential former cabinet minister Alan Milburn. Mr Milburn’s review this year of Fair Access to the Professions recommended that Connexions, “which we have barely heard a good word about”, should be disbanded.