Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 11 May 2018 to Question 137063, what data was collected on the educational backgrounds of applicants to be Chair of the Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission.

In line with other public appointments, applicants to be Chair of the Social Mobility Commission were not asked about their educational background. However, all applicants were asked to complete a diversity monitoring form. This is a standard form used for public appointments across government. The form asked the applicant to declare the following information:

• Gender

• Disability status

• Ethnicity

• Age band

• Sexual orientation

• Religion or belief

• Principal place of residence

• Main employment and occupational sector

  Applicants’ declarations were anonymised upon receipt and not considered as part of their application.