The Social Security Advisory Committee has a new chair after Professor Sir Ian Diamond this week replaced Paul Gray as head of the body that examines government plans for working-age welfare reforms.
Diamond, who was knighted in 2013 for his services to social science and higher education, was the principal and vice chancellor of the University of Aberdeen until the end of July. He also holds a range of non-executive roles including as chair of the Department for International Development’s research advisory group and board member of the UK Statistics Authority.
Speaking at the time of his appointment, Diamond said it was a privilege to be invited to chair the committee. “Social security touches on the lives of everyone over the course of a lifetime, therefore the committee has an important responsibility to provide high quality and evidence-based advice to government,” he said.
“I look forward to rising to that challenge, supported by the wealth of talent that already exists within the committee’s current membership.”
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The position of SSAC chair is regulated by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments and it attracts a salary of £22,000 per annum for a time commitment of at least five days per month. Diamond has waived his entitlement to this remuneration.
Announcing Diamond’s appointment, work and pensions secretary Esther McVey said he would “bring a wealth of relevant experience and skills to the role”.
She added: “I look forward to working with Sir Ian, and am confident that the committee will continue to provide valuable advice under his leadership.
“I would also like to thank the committee’s outgoing chair, Paul Gray CB, for the high quality and constructive support that has been provided to the department over the past six years.”
A warm welcome to our new Chair, Professor Sir Ian Diamond, who takes up post today. We look forward to working with you. At the same time we bid a sad farewell and send huge thanks to Paul Gray who stood down yesterday after over six years as #SSAC chair.
— SSAC (@The_SSAC) August 1, 2018
The committee has had a prominent role in recent years scrutinizing the development of the government’s controversial Universal Credit benefit reforms.
In an interview with Civil Service World last November, Gray said that the committee’s role in providing impartial advice on social security legislation to the Department for Work and Pensions was vital.
“In today’s very complex world, getting the right balance of overall governance – as opposed to government – requires a more subtle set of structures and engagements that includes slightly more checks and balances,” says Gray.
“I would say SSAC was an early example, historically, of trying to bring that check and balance into the system.”