Government slammed for disappointing progress on social mobility

The government has failed to act on a range of recommendations to improve disadvantaged people’s life chances in England, according to a new report.

The report out today by the Social Mobility Commission warns Whitehall departments have failed to act on a third of its key recommendations in the last seven years.

The commission has made 52 specific proposals, since it was launched in 2013, on a range of policy areas, including education, housing and transport.

On a third of recommendations (31%) there was no or very little action, according to the report.

On almost half (46%) there was some but insufficient progress.

Only on a quarter (23%) had strong progress been made or the proposal delivered.

According to the report, the responses also exposed the lack of joined-up thinking and activity across Whitehall which is impeding progress on social mobility.

The report concludes a dedicated unit should be set up at the heart of government to coordinate action and ensure its recommendations were delivered.

It also shows that prior to the coronavirus outbreak, there was some evidence of progress in increasing life chances for poorer groups. More disadvantaged pupils were staying in education for longer and more poorer students were going into higher education and employment.

Good progress had also been made on supporting parents from disadvantaged backgrounds with help for home learning, and in eradicating illiteracy and innumeracy in primary schools.

The government had also published proposals to reduce health inequalities in its NHS long term plan and made progress on mental health support for young people.

‘The Prime Minister’s goal of “levelling-up” opportunity would now have to take place in the context of the major economic and social dislocation caused by coronavirus,’ said commission chair, Dame Martina Milburn.

‘Social mobility has never been more important. It is the poor and the young who will suffer the most from the economic downturn.

‘To succeed action will need to be driven from the heart of government. At present, there is no meaningful coordination between departments on the social mobility agenda, and no single force championing social mobility across government.’

Responding to the report, the acting director of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF), Helen Barnard, said: ‘The coronavirus pandemic has laid bare the depth and extent of inequalities in our society. At a time when over four million children are trapped in poverty across our country, it is a damning indictment that so little progress has been made in improving young people’s chances.

‘As we chart a course through this period of considerable economic uncertainty, we have the chance to redesign the systems that are failing children and young people. Boosting targeted social security support for families with children would have an immediate and significant impact on child poverty.’

The full report – Monitoring social mobility 2013 to 2020 – is available to read here.

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