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“Social Mobility – We need to do more” – Jim Murphy

Cabinet Officer Minister Jim Murphy today called for a greater focus on social mobility to be at the centre of the Government's public service reform agenda.

Speaking at the IPPR in London he said:

“We have already done much to help improve social justice and restart social mobility in the UK. Since 1997, 700,000 children have been lifted out of poverty, the number of failing schools has been halved and the national minimum wage will increase to £5.35 in October.

“But social mobility will not be solved quickly, it is a generational problem that manifests itself years after government policies are implemented. It requires investment, public services which are personal and a transformation in aspirations.

“So faced with the question have we achieved all we can the answer is surely no, not yet. It is a challenge for a generation of politicians. We should set a long term target for social mobility. We should judge further public service reform not only against the important criteria of efficiency but also how it helps us restart social mobility.

Calling for a specific Government target on social mobility Jim will say:

“Targets are important because they provide organisational focus, set out clear ambitions and offer a transparent way of measuring progress. We currently have over 100 targets set at the national level, that are then broken down into a multiplicity of more detailed targets distributed throughout the system. Yet we have no target relating specifically to social mobility.”

END

Notes to editors

• A full copy of Jim Murphy's speech will be available at www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Tel: 020 7276 1190 – Fax: 020 7276 0618

Out of hours telephone 07699 113300 and ask for pager number 721338.

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