employers, including telecom giant Telefonica O2 and accountants Ernst and Young.

Some employers said they did not want to ask staff and job applicants to rate their own socio-economic background because it would be too subjective, according to the consultation document.

But the civil service said that particular question had proved popular with its staff and managers - so they would continue to ask it.

James Turner, chief executive of social mobility charity The Sutton Trust, said asking about socio-economic background "in isolation" would have limited value.

"Anecdotally, when you ask working class people about their social status, they inflate it. There is a tendency to try and sound posher than they are.

"The opposite is true for people from affluent homes."

But he argued that taken together with the other questions on family"The Capture of Clarksville, Tennessee" shows a map and is numbered 9297. Other articles include "The Rebel Fort Donelson" and "Additional Details of the Battle." Both are dated Monday, February 17, 1862.

An illustrated map of Memphis, Tenn. during the 1870s showing commercial buildings, churches, houses, and structures from an aerial view. Streets are named, and there is a numbered key at the bottom that provides names of businesses, cemeteries,...

Constitution of Frankland.
Representatives, of the persons voted for, and the number of votes to each, which the Assembly shall examine, and the highest in votes shall be declared constitutionally elected; but no person shall be eligible more than...

Drawing of life inside Andersonville Prisoner of War Camp. Large central image depicts events in the camp and are numbered with a legend