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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Social mobility 'improving in UK' | Social mobility 'improving in UK' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Labour's policies may be improving social mobility, according to a study published by the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit. | Labour's policies may be improving social mobility, according to a study published by the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit. |
| It examined the link between parents' earnings and academic achievement for children born in 1970 and 1990. | It examined the link between parents' earnings and academic achievement for children born in 1970 and 1990. |
| The study said the results "suggest a statistically significant decline in the importance of family background on educational attainment". | The study said the results "suggest a statistically significant decline in the importance of family background on educational attainment". |
| But the Conservatives said any improvements were "fractional" at best. | But the Conservatives said any improvements were "fractional" at best. |
| 'Tragic decline' | 'Tragic decline' |
| Gordon Brown has said increasing social mobility must be a "national crusade", but the prime minister has been accused of presiding over widening class and social divides. | Gordon Brown has said increasing social mobility must be a "national crusade", but the prime minister has been accused of presiding over widening class and social divides. |
| Education charity the Sutton Trust has also claimed that the government's education policy fails to give poorer children the chance to improve their quality of life. | Education charity the Sutton Trust has also claimed that the government's education policy fails to give poorer children the chance to improve their quality of life. |
| The truth is that Britain today is a country where poverty is getting worse Chris Grayling, Conservatives | The truth is that Britain today is a country where poverty is getting worse Chris Grayling, Conservatives |
| Figures published on Monday by the Strategy Unit suggest that, between 1970 and 2000, social mobility neither improved nor deteriorated. | Figures published on Monday by the Strategy Unit suggest that, between 1970 and 2000, social mobility neither improved nor deteriorated. |
| However, findings provided for it by Bristol University, the London School of Economics and the Institute of Fiscal Studies seem to show that there have been encouraging signs since then. | However, findings provided for it by Bristol University, the London School of Economics and the Institute of Fiscal Studies seem to show that there have been encouraging signs since then. |
| They appear to indicate that a child's academic achievement - measured by the number of GCSEs they pass - is becoming less dependent on their family's wealth. | They appear to indicate that a child's academic achievement - measured by the number of GCSEs they pass - is becoming less dependent on their family's wealth. |
| 'Making a difference' | 'Making a difference' |
| Cabinet Office minister Liam Byrne told the BBC: "Despite the changes of the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, social mobility didn't get moving a lot. | Cabinet Office minister Liam Byrne told the BBC: "Despite the changes of the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, social mobility didn't get moving a lot. |
| "Now there's a sense that since 2000 we have been making a difference." | "Now there's a sense that since 2000 we have been making a difference." |
| Mr Byrne said increased nursery places, improving exam results, more people staying on at school after the age of 16 and better on-the-job training meant poorer people's life chances were improving. | Mr Byrne said increased nursery places, improving exam results, more people staying on at school after the age of 16 and better on-the-job training meant poorer people's life chances were improving. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY The absence of grants make it more difficult for working class kids to enter the professions Michael Taylor, Hoddesdon Send us your comments | |
| For the Conservatives, shadow work and pensions secretary Chris Grayling said: "What a damning indictment of 11 years of Labour government - of vast amounts of money spent on regeneration programmes, on complex new systems of support for people on low incomes, on the New Deal - that the best they can claim is a fractional improvement. | For the Conservatives, shadow work and pensions secretary Chris Grayling said: "What a damning indictment of 11 years of Labour government - of vast amounts of money spent on regeneration programmes, on complex new systems of support for people on low incomes, on the New Deal - that the best they can claim is a fractional improvement. |
| "If indeed that fractional improvement even exists outside the Downing Street spin machine... | "If indeed that fractional improvement even exists outside the Downing Street spin machine... |
| "The truth is that Britain today is a country where poverty is getting worse." | "The truth is that Britain today is a country where poverty is getting worse." |
| Mr Grayling is due to deliver a speech on social mobility later. | Mr Grayling is due to deliver a speech on social mobility later. |
| In June, Mr Brown said a white paper on on the subject would be published by the end of the year. | In June, Mr Brown said a white paper on on the subject would be published by the end of the year. |