National Disability Council (Hansard, 25 January 1996)

§ Mr. Burt

I am delighted to announce that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security has appointed David Grayson¹ of Business in the Community, as the chairman of the National Disability Council, and the following council members:

Doug Alker¹, Chief Executive of RNID
Christopher Brocksom, Chief Executive of AXA Equity and Law
Alan Dickson, Deputy Director of The Scottish Spastics Society
Ann Foster¹, Director of The Scottish Consumer Council
Tanni Grey¹, Chairman of the British Wheelchair Racing Association
David Jenkins, General Secretary of the Welsh TUC
Colin Low¹, Vice Chairman of RNIB
Jim McAllister, Divisional Director of Marks and Spencers
Bert Massie¹, Director of RADAR, and member of DPTAC
David Mills, Managing Director of Retail Banking Services, Midland Bank
Martin Reaveley¹, Director of Corporate Finance and Planning, Bass PLC
Phillipa Russell¹, Director of the Council for Disabled Children David Roberts¹, Founder member of Clwyd People First
Kevin Shinkwin¹, parliamentary advisor to the Muscular Dystrophy Group
Alan Smith, Chairman of NACEPD
Jenny White, Deputy Legal Advisor to the Electricity Association
¹ indicates that the member is either a disabled person or the parent or guardian of a person with disabilities

My right hon. Friend will also be inviting the chairman of the Northern Ireland Disability Council to become a member once he or she has been appointed.

In making these appointments, the Secretary of State has met the commitments given in Parliament that membership will be drawn from throughout Great Britain and sought to provide common membership with the National Advisory Council on the Employment of People with Disabilities and the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Council. More than half of the membership of the council are disabled people or the parents or guardians of people with disabilities. They will bring to the council a wide range of experience of disability, the disabilities represented include sensory impairments, mobility difficulties and learning disabilities.

The National Disability Council can make a great contribution to the reduction of discrimination against disabled people and the chairman and members will be crucial to its success. I believe that we have achieved the right balance of experience of business and disability.