Social Mobility
Issue- The Government has agreed to implement virtually all the 88 recommendations of Alan Milburn's Panel on Fair Access to the Professions.
Key points
- Promoting the aspirations of all young people, whatever their background, is at the heart of our plans for growth and success in the global economy.
- The measures announced today include an online National Internship Service for undergraduates, including bursary funding for more disadvantaged students.
- As the Prime Minsiter said to the Fabian Society at the weekend:
"I believe in an aspirational Britain. Opportunity and reward cannot be hoarded at the top, and it is not enough just to protect people at the bottom. I want to see the talents and potential of all the British people fulfilled: social mobility for the majority."
- We are already making progress through policies like raising the education leaving age to 18; expanding apprenticeships and introducing diplomas to advance vocational education; the '3 Rs' Guarantee so every child masters the basics by the time they leave primary school; and by building a Sure Start centre in every community. Last week John Denham reaffirmed the Government's commitment to tackling race inequality and highlighted the need to broaden the focus of equalities work to respond to new and emerging issues. Next week Harriet Harman will publish the report of the National Equality Panel.
- The Conservatives pose a threat to the aspirations of people on modest and middle incomes.
- They do not support raising the education and training age to 18.
- They offer a gamble not a guarantee to young people.
- They would cut child tax credits from families on £31,000 a year.
- They would cut child trust funds from families on just over £16,000 a year.
- They would remove access to SureStart for families on modest incomes.
- While under Labour, everyone who needs care the most will be offered it free of charge in their own home, under the Conservatives some of the most needy in our society will still face charges, fees and an unfair means test.
- At the same time, the Conservatives remain committed to a £200,000 tax giveaway to the 3,000 wealthiest estates.
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