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25 September 2006 - Anne McGuire announces new chair for Disability Employment Advisory Committee

Minister for Disabled People, Anne McGuire, today announced Elaine Noad as the new Chair of the Disability Employment Advisory Committee (DEAC).

The Disability Employment Advisory Committee was established in 2003 to advise the Department for Work and Pensions on the labour market barriers faced by disabled people, and develop recommendations to overcome these barriers.

Elaine Noad has a wealth of knowledge of disability issues gained through personal experience and work in the public and voluntary sector. In addition to the role of DEAC Chair, Elaine will continue as a Commissioner for Scotland for the Disability Rights Commission, which promotes the equalities agenda for disabled people.

As Chair of the DEAC, Elaine will work closely with DWP in leading and developing a strategy for the Committee.

In welcoming Elaine as the new Chair Anne McGuire said “I am pleased that someone with Elaine’s experience and background has been appointed to be the next Chair of DEAC. She will enable the Committee to continue its valuable work in providing strategic advice to DWP Ministers and officials as the department takes forward its important welfare reform agenda.”

Elaine said “I am delighted at being given the opportunity to lead DEAC into its second term and to build on the contribution of Sally Witcher and the rest of the Committee. Enabling more disabled people to get into and stay in work is central to ensuring we have a fair and equal society”.

Notes for editors

  1. Prior to her appointment Elaine Noad was Director of Social Work, Housing and Health with South Ayrshire Council. Between 2004 and 2006 she was on secondment to the Scottish Executive as a Policy Adviser.

    2. Ms Noad previously worked in local government and in the voluntary sector. She is currently the Commissioner for Scotland for the Disability Rights Commission - which promotes the equalities agenda for people with disabilities. She is a trustee of the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and a member of the Scottish Social Justice Research Committee.

  2. The appointment for Chair of the DEAC takes effect from 25 September 2006 and will be for a period of three years. The post is paid on a part time basis for the first time. Previously only the amount for loss of earnings and expenses was given.
  3. In moving to a part time paid appointment, Ministers have recognised that any success that DEAC achieves is owed in considerable part to the input of its Chair. Therefore if DEAC is to develop even more effectively the Chair needs to be able to devote sufficient time to deliver expectations.
  4. The previous Chair of DEAC, Sally Witcher, stood down at the beginning of August at the end of her term of appointment. She has recently been appointed as Assistant Director in the Office for Disability Issues.

Disability Employment Advisory Committee terms of reference:

DEAC is a Non Departmental Public Body sponsored by the Department for Work and Pensions

For media enquiries contact Jess Prasad on: 020 7238 0766.
Press office: 020 7238 0866
Out of hours: 07659 108883
Websites: www.dwp.gov.uk and www.deac.org.uk

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