UK an 'unequal place to grow up'

A report says investment in education has failed to boost social mobility

The UK remains an unequal place to grow up, according to a new report by the Social Mobility Commission.

It has concluded that the government needs to target low income families much more effectively.

The report says success in later life is still largely determined by parents' backgrounds and earnings.

The commission's findings are being published ahead of the government's own White Paper looking at improving the life chances of youngsters in the UK.

The commission - which is comprised of charity leaders, academics and economists - was set up last year at the instigation of the Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg.

The commission report comes as former health secretary Alan Milburn has made a return to frontline politics at Gordon Brown's request to look at the issue of social mobility.

The report contains 27 main recommendations to end what is referred to as "a society of persistent inequality".

Most concern a targeting of resources to deprived households and schools with the highest proportions of poorer pupils.

It also suggests child tax credits should be available only to low income families and that they should also have access to affordable credit such as interest-free loans.

In response the government said it remained committed to narrowing the gap between the rich and the poor.

Mr Milburn will chair a panel of industry leaders to help people from disadvantaged backgrounds get on in key professions.

He told the BBC it was vital children from all classes got a "fair crack of the whip" when it came to developing their careers.

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.