CEHR Commissioners - DRC reaction

5 December 2006

Responding to Ruth Kelly’s announcement on the first tranche of commissioners to work for the Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR), Bert Massie, Chairman of the Disability Rights Commission (DRC) said today:

“These appointments are a good first step in setting up a single equality commission which reflects Britain’s diverse population.

“Naturally I’m pleased to see two people who’ve been DRC commissioners on the new team. Jane Campbell has been a highly valued DRC Commissioner and her passion for human rights and experience in the health and social care arena will add to the credibility of the new commission. Kay Allen’s keen perspective on the way disability rights can be incorporated into the business world was an important contribution to our first years as a Commission and I’m delighted that her wealth of knowledge is being brought into the CEHR.

“As one of the ‘transitional’ commissioners, I look forward to working with my fellow commissioners in the coming years to ensure disability rights and the expertise of the DRC is successfully transferred to the CEHR.”