Government response to the Committee's Second Report of Session 2017-19: The future of the Social Mobility Commission

This is the government's response, published 23 May 2018.

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The government welcomes the Committee's emphasis on social justice and the Commission's role, but does not accept the proposed new powers, the renaming, or a Cabinet Office-led body.

• On impact assessments and proactive advice, it says it does not "believe that it needs to be given specific powers", as departments are "best placed" to consider the impact of their own proposals.
• Once the new Chair is in place, it is "keen to consider" using existing powers to ask the Commission for advice on specific topics, particularly social justice.
• On membership, it intends to begin recruiting new Commissioners "once the new Chair is formally appointed". The response sets no minimum number of members.
• It believes the name "should remain" as the Social Mobility Commission, and will include a commitment to social justice in the person specification for new Commissioners.

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