CABINET OFFICE News
Release (CAB/001/09) issued by COI News Distribution Service. 13
January 2009
The Prime Minister
today launched plans for building fair chances for everyone to
succeed in the new economy. The New Opportunities White Paper sets
out the Government's agenda for capturing the jobs of the
future and investing in families, communities and citizens
throughout their lives to help them get on and ahead.
Although the months ahead will be tough, the coming decade offers
vast new opportunities for Britain, with up to a billion skilled
jobs created worldwide in the coming years. The Government is
investing now to win those jobs for Britain - and to ensure new
opportunities are open to anyone no matter their background.
Against the backdrop of record public investment planned for the
next two years, the 'New Opportunities White Paper'
details plans that cover the full range of government departments
and offers focused support for people at key stages of their lives
to make the most of their potential.
The Prime Minister said:
"During this global economic downturn we must continue to
invest in people so they have a fair chance to achieve their
potential. The world economy is set to double and the expansion of
digital and green industries will offer new opportunities. We must
be ready to seize these opportunities and ensure that these better
jobs can be captured by everyone."
Minister for the Cabinet Office Liam Byrne said:
"This Government is acting now to invest in families,
communities and for people at every stage of life. Britain is an
aspirational country. But unlocking ambition isn't free. It
needs real investment now if our future performance is to match
our future potential."
Key measures include:
EARLY YEARS - SUPPORTING CHILD DEVELOPMENT
* An injection of
£57m to extend free childcare for disadvantaged two year olds - a
further step towards the Government's long term ambition to
make a free early learning and childcare place available to all
two year olds
* All vulnerable pregnant mums to have access to
a dedicated family nurse to help through pregnancy and first 2 years
WORLD CLASS SCHOOLS
* New £10k bonuses to get and keep the
most effective teachers in the schools that need them the most,
which could reach more than 500 schools and 6000 teachers a year
TRANSITION TO WORK
* Creating 35,000 new apprenticeship
places so that all qualified young people will have a right to an
apprenticeship by 2013
* A new guarantee for high potential
young people from low income backgrounds to get the help they need
to get to university
* Full time community volunteering
programme for people not in education, employment or training in
33 local authorities
GETTING ON IN WORK
* Establishing a Panel that will identify
and remove the barriers that prevent fair access to professional
jobs
* Enable professionals to retrain and gain new skills by
trebling the number of Professional and Career Development Loans
from 15,000 to 45,000 in the next two years
SUPPORTING FAMILIES
* £500 back to work training entitlement
for parents and carers
* Employment support programme for
young people leaving care
* £15million communities fund to
tackle deprivation on the worst estates and build thriving and
sustainable communities.
Notes to Editors
1. The New Opportunities White Paper is
available at: http://www.hmg.gov.uk/newopportunities
2. For analysis of trends in social mobility see the Cabinet
Office report 'Getting on, Getting ahead' available at:
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/media/cabinetoffice/strategy/assets/socialmobility/gettingon.pdf
3. For analysis of trends in aspirations please see the Cabinet
Office report 'Aspirations and Attainment in Deprived
Communities: http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/social_exclusion_task_force/short_studies/aspirations.aspx
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