Milburn to tackle social mobility

Alan Milburn was previously health secretary

Former Cabinet minister Alan Milburn is to return to the political frontline in a key advisory role to Gordon Brown.

The ex-health secretary is to head a new commission on social mobility.

Mr Milburn, who is seen as a Blairite, will chair a panel of industry leaders to help people from disadvantaged backgrounds make progress in jobs.

In a Sunday Times article he said he would try to ensure "the best people, regardless of their backgrounds, have a fair crack of the whip".

Measures to promote social mobility are to be set out in a White Paper on Tuesday.

Mr Milburn is being put in charge of drawing up recommendations for the government on one of the prime minister's priorities - widening the scope for people to achieve their potential.

'Time to act'

But ministers have identified limited access to the professions - such as law, medicine, the senior civil service, media, finance and the upper ranks of the Armed Forces - as a major obstacle.

Mr Milburn, MP for Darlington, will chair a panel of representatives from the professions who will generate proposals for what they can do to widen access in their sphere.

Issues to be considered include financial obstacles to access and progression, the role of work experience and internships, recruitment practices and what can be done to encourage new applicants for certain jobs.

In the newspaper article Mr Milburn said: "This is the right time for the government to make its core purpose creating an upwardly mobile society again.

"While Gordon Brown has rightly made the immediate priority getting the country through the global economic downturn, the government needs to take action now to prepare Britain for the opportunities that will arise in the future."

Prominent names

Mr Milburn said Labour had made progress since 1997, but added: "While the glass ceiling in British society has been raised, it has not yet been broken. A renewed drive is needed."

He went on to say the shifting world economy meant the professions needed to take advantage of all the talent on offer in the UK.

"With 90% fewer unskilled jobs and 50% more professional jobs expected in Britain by 2020, our future success depends on unlocking the talents of all our people," he said.

The new Panel on Access to the Professions will include Michael Grade, executive chairman of ITV; Gail Rebuck, chairman and chief executive of publisher Random House; Azeem Ibrahim, founder of the European Commerce and Mercantile Bank; and Trevor Philips, head of the Commission for Equalities and Human Rights.