Government selects Prince's Trust chief to lead Social Mobility Commission

The announcement has been made in the government's response to a report on the future of the commission published in March by the education select committee.

The committee's report says the commission, which was created in 2010 as an independent body to promote social mobility, needs stronger powers as it is proving ineffective due to a lack of clout among ministers.

The report is also critical of ministers for allowing the commission's membership to dwindle, with the remaining four members, including its last chair Alan Milburn, all quitting last December in protest at the lack of support from government.

"We are delighted to announce Dame Martina Milburn as our preferred candidate for chair of the commission," says the government's response to the education committee's report.

"The recruitment of a candidate with a proven track record of leadership on social mobility and social justice demonstrates our commitment to the future of the commission and we look forward to working with her to set out an ambitious agenda for action in due course."

Milburn joined The Prince's Trust in 2004 and has previously been chief executive of the BBC's Children in Need appeal and the Association of Spinal Injury Research Rehabilitation and Reintegration. She is also a non-executive director of the National Citizen Service.

"Her leadership of The Prince's Trust has improved the education, skills and self-esteem of thousands of young people, and will be key in progressing our social mobility agenda," Education Secretary Damian Hinds said.

"I am grateful to her predecessor Alan Milburn, whose work as chair of the commission over five years shone a light on the injustices that still exist too frequently in this country. I look forward to working with Dame Martina as she works with us to eliminate them."

Dame Milburn added: "It is a privilege to be put forward to chair the Social Mobility Commission. I hope my experience of working closely with and listening to young people from different backgrounds will help make a difference."

The education committee wants the commission to be given specific powers to publish social justice impact assessments on government policy and "proactively" advise ministers on social justice issues.

But the government's response says that departments are best placed to consider the impact of policy on social justice.

It adds: "Given the breadth of the commission's remit, we think that it is able to advise on a range of issues relevant to both social mobility and social justice."

Education select committee chair Robert Halfon said the committee will continue to urge ministers to accept their recommendations.

"We called for a beefed-up commission with the resources, direction and teeth needed to tackle society's burning injustices but, in its response, the government has sadly failed to seize this opportunity," said Halfon.

"The committee will continue to pursue its key themes of ensuring social justice and making sure everyone from whatever background has the opportunity to climb the ladder of opportunity.

"We look forward to our public hearing with the government's preferred candidate for chair of the commission and testing her commitment to tackling social injustice."

This week Halfon asked MPs to support a 10-minute rule bill calling on parliament to give the commission greater powers.

The education select committee is due to meet Milburn and advise the Education Secretary prior to a final decision being taken on the appointment.