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Brown focusing on social mobility Brown focusing on social mobility
(30 minutes later)
Gordon Brown is to set out his vision of increasing fairness and social mobility, in what Downing Street says is a major policy speech.Gordon Brown is to set out his vision of increasing fairness and social mobility, in what Downing Street says is a major policy speech.
Parents will get £200 for agreeing to such options as getting treatment for children with behavioural difficulties, or taking up free childcare places. Parents who agree to options such as treating children with behavioural difficulties or accepting free childcare places will receive £200.
There will also be pilot schemes to help tackle child poverty. There will also be pilot schemes to help to tackle child poverty.
The prime minister is expected to say that speeding up social mobility in the years ahead is "the highest priority".The prime minister is expected to say that speeding up social mobility in the years ahead is "the highest priority".
BBC political correspondent Reeta Chakrabarti said Mr Brown was expected to adopt a personal tone to his speech, describing himself as "a child of the first great wave of post war social mobility". But he will stress that the government's plans will only succeed if people make the most of the opportunities available to them and "participate fully in shaping the future".
But he would also say that while progress has been made, background and class are still a major determinant of how well people do. "Social mobility starts with parents wanting their children to do better than they did themselves," Mr Brown will say.
He will outline plans to try to improve social mobility, including better provision for the under-fives, and more support for families. "But it cannot be achieved without people themselves adopting the work ethic, the learning ethic, and aiming high."
Government 'failings' Personal experiences
Ministers will also unveil a series of schemes to combat child poverty - including in 10 local authorities grants of about £200 for low-income parents if they do more to support their families' development. BBC political correspondent Reeta Chakrabarti said Mr Brown was expected to adopt a personal tone to his speech, describing himself as "a child of the first great wave of post-war social mobility".
He will add, however, that these advances stalled in the 1970s and 1980s, with a "lost generation" of "Thatcher's children" subsequently left behind.
It is the great test of our time: to build a fairer, more prosperous and upwardly mobile Britain Gordon Brown
But he will also say that while progress has been made since then, background and class are still a major determinant of how well people do.
He will outline plans to try to improve social mobility, including better provision for the under-fives, plus greater support for families and young adults.
Injustice must be tackled, prejudice and discrimination removed and children's aspirations raised, the prime minister is to add.
Ministers will also unveil a series of schemes to combat child poverty - including grants of about £200 for low-income parents in 10 local authorities if they do more to support their families' development.
"It is the great test of our time: to build a fairer, more prosperous and upwardly mobile Britain," Mr Brown will say.
'Problem of fairness'
The Sutton Trust, which funds projects that provided educational opportunities for children from underprivileged backgrounds, has previously said the government's education policy failed to give poorer children the chance to improve quality of life.The Sutton Trust, which funds projects that provided educational opportunities for children from underprivileged backgrounds, has previously said the government's education policy failed to give poorer children the chance to improve quality of life.
A study conducted for the trust last year found that children born in the 1950s had a better chance of escaping poverty than those born in 1970.A study conducted for the trust last year found that children born in the 1950s had a better chance of escaping poverty than those born in 1970.
The report concluded that the decline in social mobility seen during the 1970s and 1980s has now flattened off, but shows no sign of reversing.The report concluded that the decline in social mobility seen during the 1970s and 1980s has now flattened off, but shows no sign of reversing.
Speaking at the time of the Sutton Trust's report, Conservative leader David Cameron said there was "a problem of fairness" in the UK.Speaking at the time of the Sutton Trust's report, Conservative leader David Cameron said there was "a problem of fairness" in the UK.
Social mobility is an urgent issue for the government, given the widespread predictions that it will miss its target of halving child poverty by 2010.Social mobility is an urgent issue for the government, given the widespread predictions that it will miss its target of halving child poverty by 2010.