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UK an 'unequal place to grow up' UK an 'unequal place to grow up'
(about 1 hour later)
The UK remains an unequal place to grow up, according to a report by the Social Mobility Commission. The UK remains an unequal place to grow up, with success in life largely determined by parents' backgrounds and earnings, a report says.
It has concluded that the government needs to target low income families much more effectively. The Social Mobility Commission, set up by the Liberal Democrats, is urging the government to offer interest-free loans to struggling poorer families.
The report says success in later life is still largely determined by parents' backgrounds and earnings. Schools in deprived areas should also receive more money, it adds.
Former Health Secretary Alan Milburn, who has returned to government to look at the issue, said all children should get a "fair crack of the whip". The government, due to publish a report on social mobility on Tuesday, said it was committed to equal opportunities.
The commission's report is being published ahead of the government's own White Paper looking at improving the life chances of youngsters in the UK. Prime Minister Gordon Brown has asked former health secretary Alan Milburn to chair a group looking into the issue.
Narrow the gap 'Outrage'
It contains 27 main recommendations to end what is referred to as "a society of persistent inequality". The Social Mobility Commission's report contains 27 main recommendations to end what is referred to as "a society of persistent inequality".
Most concern a targeting of resources to deprived households and schools with the highest proportions of poorer pupils.Most concern a targeting of resources to deprived households and schools with the highest proportions of poorer pupils.
The report also suggests child tax credits should be available only to low income families and that they should also have access to affordable credit such as interest-free loans. We've raised the glass ceiling, but we haven't broken through it Alan MilburnFormer health secretary The report also suggests child tax credits should be available only to low-income families and that they should also have access to affordable credit such as interest-free loans. We've raised the glass ceiling, but we haven't broken through it Alan MilburnFormer health secretary
In response, the government said it remained committed to narrowing the gap between the rich and the poor. Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said: "This expert analysis shatters the idea that Britain in 2009 is a free and fair society.
Mr Milburn, who is making a return to frontline politics at Gordon Brown's request, will chair a panel of industry leaders to help people from disadvantaged backgrounds get on in key professions. "It is an outrage and a tragedy that two children born at the same time in the same hospital should have wildly different life chances based simply on the income of their parents."
He told the BBC it was vital to encourage children from all classes to develop careers in law, medicine, the senior civil service, media and finance. Martin Narey, chief executive of children's charity Barnardo's, who chaired the commission, told the BBC that much more needed to be done.
"This is about identifying the obstacles that stand in their way and removing them," he said.
"We've raised the glass ceiling, but we haven't broken through it."
Mr Milburn admitted that social mobility had been declining in Britain for several decades, but said it had recently "bottomed out" and "the opportunity now is to get it going again".
But Martin Narey, chief executive of children's charity Barnardo's, told the BBC that much more needed to be done.
He said education had "not become the great leveller that many people believed it would be" and investment had "disproportionately benefited the middle classes".He said education had "not become the great leveller that many people believed it would be" and investment had "disproportionately benefited the middle classes".
"There's been a much greater expansion in university education for children from comfortable backgrounds than from the most deprived backgrounds," he said. A basic and reasonable income is an absolute prerequisite for social mobility Martin Narey, Barnardo's "There's been a much greater expansion in university education for children from comfortable backgrounds than from the most deprived backgrounds," he said.
"We need to make sure that the most disadvantaged children get to the best schools and we need to look at over-riding local authority admission policies and school admission policies."We need to make sure that the most disadvantaged children get to the best schools and we need to look at over-riding local authority admission policies and school admission policies.
"If we did that more widely, we would fundamentally alter equality of opportunity for the disadvantaged.""If we did that more widely, we would fundamentally alter equality of opportunity for the disadvantaged."
'Bottomed out'
Mr Narey said the issue of child poverty also had to be addressed.Mr Narey said the issue of child poverty also had to be addressed.
"A basic and reasonable income is an absolute prerequisite for social mobility," he added."A basic and reasonable income is an absolute prerequisite for social mobility," he added.
The Social Mobility Commission - which is comprised of charity leaders, academics and economists - was set up last year at the instigation of the Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg. The government said it remained committed to narrowing the gap between the rich and the poor.
Mr Milburn's panel of industry leaders will look at helping people from disadvantaged backgrounds to get on in key professions.
He told the BBC it was vital to encourage children from all classes to develop careers in law, medicine, the senior civil service, media and finance.
"This is about identifying the obstacles that stand in their way and removing them," he said.
"We've raised the glass ceiling, but we haven't broken through it."
Mr Milburn admitted that social mobility had been declining in Britain for several decades, but said it had recently "bottomed out" and "the opportunity now is to get it going again".
The Social Mobility Commission - which is comprised of charity leaders, academics and economists - was set up last year at the instigation of Mr Clegg.