Press release

Social Security Advisory Committee reappointments

The Secretary of State has reappointed Carl Emmerson and Phil Jones.

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has confirmed the reappointment of Carl Emmerson and Phil Jones as Members of the Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC). The reappointments extend Carl and Phil’s membership to 31 July 2026.

Appointments and reappointments to the Committee are made by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and are regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. The reappointment has been made in line with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.

Carl Emmerson

Carl Emmerson is Deputy Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences, an editor of the annual IFS Green Budget and a Director of the Pensions Review. His research includes issues around the UK’s public finances, and household retirement saving decisions. He is also a member of the advisory panel of the Office for Budget Responsibility, and the UK Statistics Authority’s Methodological Assurance Review Panel.

Phil Jones

Since October 2021 Phil Jones has been Chief Executive of the Welsh Social Enterprise, Business in Focus, which provides a suite of business support services across Wales, including the delivery of the Welsh Government’s flagship ‘Business Wales’ service.

Phil was previously the Director of Prince’s Trust Cymru for 5 years and, before that, the Wales Area Manager for The Royal British Legion.  Phil also served in the Armed Forces for over 25 years as an officer in The Royal Welsh.
About the Committee

The Social Security Advisory Committee is an independent advisory body of the Department for Work and Pensions. Its statutory remit is to:

  • to provide advice and assistance to the Secretary of State, whether in response to a specific request or on its own initiative
  • to scrutinise secondary legislation relating to social security for the benefit of the Secretaries of State for Work and Pensions or the Department for Social Development in Northern Ireland, and Parliament

The Committee Membership comprises:

  • Dr Stephen Brien (Chair)
  • Les Allamby
  • Bruce Calderwood
  • Rachel Chiu
  • Carl Emmerson
  • Daphne Hall
  • Professor Stephen Hardy
  • Jacob Meagher
  • Philip Jones
  • Dr Suzy Walton

Contact SSAC

Further enquiries should be directed to the Committee Secretary:

Social Security Advisory Committee
7th Floor Caxton House
Tothill Street
London
SW1H 9NA

Email: ssac@ssac.gov.uk

Tel: 0300 046 0323

Updates to this page

Published 8 October 2024