COMMISSIONERS TO TACKLE DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION

14 Mar 2006 09:45 AM

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, John Hutton, has announced the reappointment of five commissioners to the Disability Rights Commission (DRC).

Saghir Alam, Susan Daniels OBE, Richard Exell OBE, Eve Rank, and Jenny White MBE have been appointed to serve on the DRC for a further two-year term from 1 April 2006.

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, John Hutton, said:

"I am very pleased to announce the reappointment of five Commissioners to the Disability Rights Commission. The Commission has an important and extensive programme of work ahead, as we implement the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 and move towards the establishment of a Commission for Equality and Human Rights.

"These Commissioners have already made significant contributions to the work of the Commission and their reappointment will ensure that the DRC has the continuity and blend of expertise that it needs over the next two years to realise its very ambitious agenda."

The Commission's Chair, Bert Massie said:

"Today's announcement is excellent news for the DRC. These reappointments mean that the Commission will continue to have the right balance of skills and experience, which will enable it to build on its achievements and take forward its challenging programme of work.

"I very much look forward to continuing to work with them as we drive forward our agenda to transform the lives of all disabled people and prepare for the hand-over to the Commission for Equality and Human Rights."

Notes to editors

1. Biographies of the appointees:

Saghir Alam works for a firm of Solicitors practising Business and Medical Law. He is a Non-Executive Director of Rotherham District General Hospitals NHS Trust and Trustee for Investment Funds; Patron of National Ethnic Disabled Children's Society; Special Advisor to Connecting for Development a national organisation working on international development; a Member of Lord Chancellor's Consultative Forum; a Member of NHS Modernisation Agency Advisory Board; a Member of BBC Advisory Council; and a member of Race and Diversity Panel of Centrex - National Police Training Authority, a ministerial appointment for which he receives a daily fee of £200.00 when on Panel business. He is also a Trained Mediator in Business and Commercial Disputes and the Chairman of Yorkshire Trust Cricket Club. Saghir Alam has held a number of additional senior positions notably Board Member - National Probation Service for England & Wales, Vice-Chair Standards Board, Member of Objective 1 Business Competitiveness and Innovation Priority Group, a Diversity Advisor to the Home Office and an Elected Member of Chamber-TEC Business Representation Council.

Susan Daniels OBE is currently Chief Executive of the National Deaf Children's Society. She is a Governor of Mary Hare Grammar School for Deaf Children. Amongst other voluntary appointments, she chairs a joint study and monitoring group on teacher of the deaf training; is currently Chair of the Board of Trustees of the UK Council on Deafness (UKCOD); is a key member of the Department of Health Universal New Born Hearing Screening Programme; Department for Education and Skills National Steering Group of the SEN Regional Partnerships; and the Department of Education and Skills Steering Committee of the Early Support Pilot Programme (ESPP).

Richard Exell OBE works for the Trades Union Congress, specialising in social security issues. He is a member of the Social Security Advisory Committee, a ministerial appointment for which he receives a daily fee of £205.00 when on Committee business; the Fabian Commission on Life Chances and Child Poverty. He was previously a Member of the Board of the Disability Alliance and the Board of End Child Poverty. He was also a member of the union team that negotiated the European Directive on parental leave and formerly a member of the National Advisory Council on the Employment of People with Disabilities.

Eve Rank has extensive experience in representing the needs and interests of people with learning disabilities and in establishing self-advocacy groups.

Jenny White MBE was formerly Legal Advisor at the Electricity Association, and now works independently. She chaired the CBI Disability Working Group when the DDA was enacted, and served on the National Disability Council. Previously on the Board of the Royal National Institute for Deaf People, she is currently a trustee of the Centre for Accessible Environments and a lay member of the research ethics committee for East London and the City.

2. All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees' political activity (if any declared) to be made public. Richard Exell is a Labour member of Brightlingsea Town Council. None of the other four appointees has undertaken any political activity in the last five years.

3. The DRC is an independent body set up by statute and funded by Government. There are currently 14 Commissioners, including the Chairman. The maximum number permitted under the DRC Act is 15. The Commission's functions are to work towards the elimination of discrimination against disabled people, promote the equalisation of opportunities for disabled people, promote good practice to employers and service providers, provide information and advice about the Disability Discrimination Act, and advise the Government on a range of policy issues within its remit.

4. The appointments have been made in accordance with the principles of the Commissioner for Public Appointments Code of Practice for Appointments to Public Bodies.

5. The Commissioners will contribute to Commission and ad hoc working group meetings which determine the DRC's overall policy; champion the work of the DRC by speaking and representing the Commission at conferences and other events; and network extensively with the DRC's key stakeholders and fellow Commissioners.

6. Commissioner appointments are part-time and Commissioners are paid a fee, currently £150, for each day spent on Commission business, as well as travel and other expenses.

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