New Opportunities: Fair Chances for the Future

This White Paper sets out the Government's proposals to invest in education, skills and families in order to equip the UK to meet the challenges and opportunities presented by the global economy. Chapter 1 examines the new opportunities: the emergence of a global "middle class"; new production patterns enabled by technological change; new technologies creating new industries; increased personalisation of goods and services; increasing social mobility. Success in the global economy (chapter 2) will depend on building a world-class business infrastructure (including transport and communications), encouraging innovation and enterprise, and enhancing the skills of the workforce. The Government recognises the importance of child development in early years as crucial to children's subsequent lives, and chapter 3 outlines the proposals on improving the health and well being of children, providing more effective support to families and ensuring access to high-quality early learning and childcare. Education continues as the theme of chapter 4, setting out policies to deliver world class schools and teaching profession. The critical pathway from education to employment for 16-25 year olds is the subject of chapter 5. The Government believes that all those who have the desire and ability to study and train throughout their working lives should be able to access the support needed to raise their skill levels, and chapter 6 introduces new policies to ensure that people's potential to get on in work is supported. Strengthening family life (chapter 7) - through improving parental support, legislating to eradicate child poverty, helping families at risk - will help prevent the pressures of modern life from having a detrimental effect on individuals' life chances. The final chapter outlines a range of programmes to engage young people in community life and empower communities to respond locally to the problems they face.