THE Dean of Blackburn pledged to continue ‘the fight for fairness’ at the launch of a report into social inequality.

The independent Lancashire Fairness Commission, the biggest organisation of its kind in the UK, has released a 52-page document which makes recommendations regarding issues including wages, housing, education and pensions.

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Commissioners consulted hundreds of residents and the report calls on organisations in the public, private and voluntary sectors to do their bit to address the ‘gulf’ between the county’s haves and have-nots.

The Dean, the Very Reverend Christopher Armstrong, who has chaired the group since last July, said tackling social inequality was ‘a hallmark of Lancashire’s political tradition’.

He said: “There is no doubt that in Lancashire and across the country, the current economic climate is widening the gaps in health, wellbeing and prosperity between poor and more affluent communities.

“We’ve spoken to people and seen how their lives have been affected and how they think services could be changed.“This report is the beginning of a new way of working, a time when we all pull together to ensure everyone has the same opportunities.”

Among the 27 recommendations are calls for public bodies to pay the Living Wage of £7.85; for developers to ensure that 30 per cent of new homes built are classed as affordable; and for all under-16s to receive free bus passes.

Another point read: “We call on the Government to end public subsidies for private education by removing the charitable status of fee-paying schools.”

The Dean admitted that two of his staff at Blackburn Cathedral were not paid the Living Wage, but denied that this was hypocritical.

Speaking yesterday (MON) at the Maundy Relief Centre, in Accrington, he said: “Two people who work in the cafe are not paid the Living Wage. We run the cafe at a loss – £10,000 last year.

“We could scrap the cafe and they would be out of work. That’s the dilemma we’re in, but we are offering a service.

“We’d love to pay the Living Wage but there actually isn’t the cash in the pot to do so. What we’re trying to say is that this is a standard we feel we should aim at, ourselves included.”

The 21-strong commission, which will present the report to Lancashire County Council at a cabinet meeting on Thursday, also called for the formation of a Lancashire Food Bank Network and an Older People’s Charter.