Social Mobility Commission needs beefing up, say MPs

The government body which promotes social mobility should be given “teeth”, in the shape of additional resources and increased powers, to help drive forward the fight against social injustice, MPs have said.

The Commons education committee warned that without greater powers the Social Mobility Commission (SMC) could “do little to tackle social injustices and give the most vulnerable in society the chance they deserve to climb the ladder of opportunity”.

To beef up the SMC, the committee called on the government to appoint a Cabinet Office minister with specific responsibility for social mobility who would be able to “hold ministers’ feet to the fire” on the issue. It also suggested renaming it the Social Justice Commission.

In its report looking into the future of the SMC published on Thursday, the committee also suggested that a new delivery body should be set up alongside the commission to drive forward and implement proposed changes.

The work of the SMC reached a standstill last December after all four board members, led by the chair, former Labour minister Alan Milburn, resigned in protest at the government’s lack of progress on social justice. During an appearance before the committee, Milburn said although the government proclaimed its commitment to social mobility, in reality ministers seemed incapable of delivering meaningful change in the face of the demands of Brexit.

Following on from his evidence, the committee also expressed concern at the “farcical” appointments process at the SMC which saw the number of commissioners drop from 10 to four over time, and recommended a minimum of seven. The committee has drawn up a draft bill detailing all its proposed changes.

The committee chair, Tory MP Robert Halfon, said: “It’s crucial that a new body is created inside government with the levers and powers to co-ordinate and drive forward initiatives across Whitehall and ensure social justice is delivered across the country.

“We need a commission which has the teeth to undertake objective assessments of the implications for social justice of government policies and is properly equipped to hold ministers’ feet to the fire on social mobility.”

He added: “The prime minister sent a strong message when she spoke on the steps of No 10 about the importance of fighting against the burning injustice in our society, setting out a commitment to ensure our country works for all, not just the privileged few.

“But if we are to tackle the social crisis in our country, we must devote far greater energy and focus to the social justice agenda.”