Clegg pledges commitment to improving social mobility

Clegg announced he is to chair a newly created ministerial social mobility group that will develop a "social mobility strategy".

One of the prime aims of the group will be to consider how to give children and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds greater opportunities to succeed in later life.

The speech was also a chance for Clegg to formally announce the appointment of former Labour Health Secretary Alan Milburn as an independent adviser to the government on social mobility policy.

He said that Milburn’s role would be to monitor the new strategy and ensure the government acts on its pledges.
 
Clegg said: "Alan will now be holding the coalition government’s feet to the fire. Each year for the whole of this parliamentary term, Alan will consider our success in delivering that strategy, as well as identifying other work that needs to be done, and assessing the contribution being made by business, the professions and civil society."

Milburn will be expected to publish his first findings from September next year. These will then be laid before parliament and Clegg hopes they will "form the basis of an annual social mobility debate in the House of Commons".