Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Social Mobility

Wednesday 10 February 2021 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government providing 300 million to schools for tutoring, new summer school initiatives and the covid premium during the pandemic.
  • Civil service fast stream is no longer publishing data on social backgrounds of hires.
  • Government commits to publishing data on social backgrounds of civil service hires by April.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 David Johnston
Education Economy
Context

The question arises from a broader policy focus on social mobility and levelling up opportunities across different demographics.

Question

What steps the Government is taking to increase social mobility. During the pandemic, all children should get the chance to succeed through additional tutoring funds for schools, new summer school initiatives, and a covid premium.

Answer from Elizabeth Truss

Our focus is on levelling up and ensuring that no one is left behind. During the pandemic, we are providing £300 million to schools for tutoring, new summer school initiatives and the covid premium.

Partly answered
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Q2 David Johnston
Standards & Ethics
Context

A recent report highlighted the disparity in success rates between individuals from private schools and those from comprehensive schools within the civil service fast stream.

Question

Last month, it was reported that the civil service fast stream is no longer publishing data on social backgrounds of hires. Can I ask my right hon. Friend to push for regular publication of this data, showing commitment to social mobility?

Answer from Elizabeth Truss

My hon. Friend is correct; the civil service should be recruiting the best people regardless of their background, open to all. The Government will publish the data he asks for by April this year and more will be said on widening opportunity in the civil service shortly.

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