Britain ‘most unequal society in western Europe’

A high-profile philanthropist has labelled evidence that poverty affects children’s ability to do well in school a “a tragic indictment on modern society.”

Sutton Trust chairman Sir Peter Lampl described as shocking the findings of a study by his organisation to be released on Monday which show that the language skills of the poorest children in Britain are almost a year behind their richer peers.

Of 12,644 five-year-olds who were monitored in 2006 and 2007, just 45 per cent from the poorest fifth of families were ready to read daily by the age of three compared to 78 per cent of children from the richest fifth of families.

The study also showed “the stark educational disadvantage experienced by children from poorer homes before they have even stepped into the school classroom” – the poorest parents in the survey had no GCSEs at grade C or above, while four in five of the richest were educated to degree level.

Sources said the report confirmed that after 12 years of Labour government Britain is the most unequal society in western Europe.

Against a background of over half a billion pounds worth of cuts in higher education – unparalleled in the public sector – Mr Lampl warned against reducing funds that helped disadvantaged children to go to university.

“It is a tragic indictment on modern society that our children’s future life prospects depend so much on their family background, not their individual talents,” he said.

But he also claimed that “good parenting” – such as reading to children on a daily basis, or taking them to libraries, museums and galleries – could “overcome some of the negative impacts that poverty can have on children’s early development.”

The study found that wealthier parents with more free time would be more likely to take their kids on cultural activities.

Left-leaning think tank Compass highlighted the way in which poverty and wealth is inherited by subsequent generations last month.

It found that university graduates are disproportionately more likely to be from better-off backgrounds.

A mere 4 per cent of pupils eligible for free school meals go on to higher education, compared to 33 per cent of those who are ineligible.

Taken from Morning Star

Report shows deadly price of being poor

Shocking research published in a major new report has revealed that people living in England’s poorest areas die seven years younger on average than those in its richest communities.

The Marmot review shows that although life expectancy has risen overall in both poor and rich areas, distinct inequalities remain.

Along with a lower life expectancy the report also finds that for poorer areas a greater proportion of people’s lives will be spent unwell.

The government-commissioned report, published by epidemiologist Sir Michael Marmot of University College London, estimates that up to 202,000 early deaths could be avoided if the NHS spent more to tackle these inequalities.

He also called for an increase in minimum wage to allow everyone the opportunity for a healthier lifestyle.

Professor David Hunter, an expert in health management at Durham University, said: “There are few votes in health inequalities. There must be a real political commitment at all levels because a fairer society will benefit all.

“As politicians of all hues become increasingly preoccupied with securing electoral advantage, it is questionable whether this important report will receive the careful and considered attention it deserves.”

The report warns that doing nothing to tackle these inequalities would cost the economy more, accounting for £33 billion spent every year.

It calls for NHS spending on preventing illness with more money going to initiatives such as helping people to stop smoking.

Royal College of Nursing chief executive Dr Peter Carter said: “To avoid missing the window of opportunity in a child’s early years, midwifery, health visiting, school and community nursing are vital and need significant and consistent investment.”

Professor Mike Kelly, of the National Institute for health and Clinical Excellence, also argues there needs to be a shift away from medical interventions that treat existing illnesses to those preventing them developing in the first place.

President of the UK Faculty of Public Health Professor Alan Maryon-Davis added: “This report is not just about fairness and opportunity – essential though these things are. It is also about hard-nosed investment in preventive strategies that really pay off.”

Health Secretary Andy Burnham welcomed the report and agreed that more work is needed to tackle inequalities.

“It’s not right that where we live can dictate the state of our health,” he said. But many are asking the government exactly what it plans to do.

Haringey TUC chairman Keith Flett, whose area includes some of the poorest areas in the country including Tottenham’s Northumberland Park, said: “The really big question posed is what is going to be done about decent jobs and wages and the impact this has on people’s lives?”

He added that people in Tottenham were literally dying because they were poor.

Taken from Morning Star

Rich-poor divide ‘wider than 40 years ago’

The gap between rich and poor in the UK is wider now than 40 years ago, a government-commissioned report says.

“Deep-seated and systemic differences” remain between men and women and minority groups in pay and employment, the National Equality Panel found.

It said in areas such as neighbourhood renewal, taxes and education, policy action was needed to limit inequality.

The issues raised would need “sustained and focused action”, Equalities Minister Harriet Harman said.

“But for the sake of the right of every individual to reach their full potential, for the sake of a strong and meritocratic economy and to achieve a peaceful and cohesive society, that is the challenge that must be met,” she added.

Earning power

Apparent discrimination against people from ethnic minorities was revealed in the report, with those from nearly every minority group less likely to be in paid work than white British men and women.

The panel – set up by the government in 2008 – found that despite women up to the age of 44 having better qualifications than men, men were still paid up to 21% more per hour.

But the authors pointed out that some of the greatest differences come within social groups.

Among women, many work part-time, earning less than £7.20 an hour, much less than the median pay of £9.90 across the country.

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“Most political parties and people subscribe to the ideal of ‘equality of opportunity’,” panel chair Professor John Hills, of the London School of Economics, told the BBC.

“The challenge that our report puts down to all political parties is how do you create a level playing field when there are such large differences between the resources that different people have available to them.

“Things that allow you to buy a house in the catchment area of a good school or allow you to help your children get on the housing ladder. These are very big differences.”

The study said that the type of job and pay a parent had could have a cumulative effect throughout a person’s life, setting them on “tracks that make all sorts of differences”.

By retirement, the difference between rich and poor can be “colossal”, the report added.

The panel pointed out that half of those who have worked in the top professions have net assets worth more than £900,000, while a 10th of those who have had unskilled jobs have property, savings and possessions worth less than £8,000.

BBC social policy correspondent Gillian Hargreaves said the report would make “awkward reading for the government” as Labour had made tackling inequality a priority.

Theresa May, shadow minister for women and equalities, told the BBC that Labour’s policies had failed.

“It is shocking that after 13 years of a government that wanted to focus on child inequality, we’re still in this situation,” she said.

“Labour has had a one-dimensional approach, looking at the symptoms, not the causes. For example, one in six children are growing up in a workless household. We need policies that can make equality a reality.”

The Liberal Democrats’ children, schools and families spokesman, David Laws, said Gordon Brown’s government had “run out of ideas for tackling the lack of opportunity for so many children and the chasm that separates the rich from the poor”.

Full report – An anatomy of economic inequality in the UK [4 MB]

Summary – An anatomy of economic inequality in the UK [1.79 MB]

Taken from BBC News