Les Allamby

Mr Allamby, a solicitor who has previously served as director of Law Centre NI and chief commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC), is one of six new appointees to the SSAC, which advises the UK government and Northern Ireland departments.

The independent statutory body provides impartial advice on social security and related matters, scrutinising most of the complex secondary legislation that underpins the social security system.

The other new appointees are Rachel Chiu, Daphne Hall, Stephen Hardy, Jacob Meagher and Suzy Walton, while Bruce Calderwood has been re-appointed for a further three years.

Viscount Younger of Leckie, the parliamentary under-secretary for the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), said: “I am delighted to welcome Les, Rachel, Daphne, Stephen, Jacob, and Suzy to the Social Security Advisory Committee, and also to welcome back Bruce for a further term.

“Collectively, the new appointments bring a formidable wealth of knowledge, experience and diverse perspectives which will further enrich the advice that the committee provides to the DWP ministerial team.”

Dr Stephen Brien, SSAC chair, said: “These appointments are a very welcome addition to the current committee membership.

“The diversity of the new appointments will bring with it an impressive mix of knowledge, skills, and insight to our work on a broad range of issues that affect many people in our society who find themselves in vulnerable situations. I look forward to working with our new colleagues.”