Paul Gray appointed as interim chair of the Social Security Advisory Committee
Paul Gray CB has been appointed as interim Chairman of Social Security Advisory Committee, following the resignation of Deep Sagar.
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, the Rt Hon. Iain Duncan Smith, has announced that Paul Gray CB has been appointed as interim Chairman of Social Security Advisory Committee, following the resignation of Deep Sagar. The appointment has been approved by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
The interim appointment is for a period of up to nine months with effect from 1 November 2011.
Iain Duncan Smith said:
I am grateful for the work done by Deep Sagar as SSAC Chairman. Both I and my Ministerial colleagues wish him every success in his future endeavours.
I am also grateful to Paul Gray for agreeing to take on this post on an interim basis. Paul brings a wealth of relevant skills and experience to the role at a time of fundamental reform to the welfare system. I am confident that the input of the Social Security Advisory Committee will prove very valuable during this period.
An open competition will take place in due course to appoint the next permanent Chair.
Paul Gray said:
I am very pleased to have been given the opportunity to lead the Social Security Advisory Committee until the next permanent Chairman of the body is selected.
I join SSAC at a particularly interesting time and look forward to working with the members of the Committee to help maintain its reputation for the provision of authoritative and pertinent advice.
Notes to Editors
SSAC is an independent statutory body, formed in 1980, that provides advice to Secretary of State, principally on proposals for the amendment of secondary legislation and on more general social security matters as required.
The post of SSAC Chairman attracts a salary of £22,000 per annum for a time commitment of at least 5 days per month.
The Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments regulates all appointments made by the Secretary of State to the Social Security Advisory Committee.
Paul Gray is a retired civil servant who held Permanent Secretary roles in both the Department for Work and Pensions and HM Revenue and Customs. He is the Chairman of Praesta Partners LLP, an executive coaching and mentoring firm, and also has a number of pro bono roles.