Alex Allan

Infobox Person
name = Alex Allan
title=The Honourable (The Hon.)


caption =
birth_date = 9 February 1951
birth_place =
death_date =
death_place =
other_names =
known_for =
residence= London
parents= Robert Allan, Baron Allan of Kilmahew
education=Harrow School
occupation = Chairman of Joint Intelligence Committee of the United Kingdom
nationality = British

The Hon. Alexander Allan (born 9 February 1951) is the chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee of the United Kingdom and Head of Intelligence Assessment. He is the son of Robert Allan, Baron Allan of Kilmahew.

Early life

Between 1964–1969 he attended Harrow School, and in 1972 he obtained a BA(Hons) in Mathematics from Clare College, Cambridge. In 1973 he obtained an MSc in Statistics, University College London.

Civil Service career

* 1973 to 1992 - Allan had various appointments in Customs & Excise and HM Treasury, aside from two years as a freelance computer consultant in Australia (1983–1985).

* 1992 to 1997 - he was the principal private secretary to the Prime Minister (John Major to April 1997, and Tony Blair to Aug 1997).

* 1997 to 1999 - he was the British High Commissioner to Australia.

* 1999 to 2000 - he was e-Envoy for the British Government (succeeded by Andrew Pinder).

* 2001 to 2004 - he moved to Western Australia, where he worked on a range of IT, government and international issues.

Permanent Secretary of the Department for Constitutional Affairs

Mr Allan was Permanent Secretary of the then Department for Constitutional Affairs now known as the Ministry of Justice from 1 August 2004 to 15 November 2007.

On 17 October 2006, Allan submitted oral evidence to the Constitutional Affairs Committee. He was questioned on the 'reorganisation of the centre of the Department' (for constitutional affairs) which he stated in his annual report. Mr Allan was asked what he thought were the key changes he had made to the department since his two years in the post. He stated the key changes he had made to the Department for Constitutional affairs were structual. Allan admitted the department faced big challenges and that there was a lot still to be done. Allan was also questioned over the 'chaos' of the Oracle system (a computer system used by the department). [cite web |url=http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm200506/cmselect/cmconst/uc1665-i/uc166502.htm |title=Minutes of evidence before Constitutional Affairs Committee |date=2006-10-17 |publisher=United Kingdom Parliament |accessdate=2008-07-05]

On 6 February 2007 Mr Allan attended a meeting with the management board for the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). His duty was to brief the board about the Department for Constitutional Affairs approach to information rights and the ICO itself. [cite web |url=http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/library/corporate/notices/mb_minutes_6_feb_v2.01.pdfb |title=Minutes of 6 February |publisher=Information Commissioners Office] In this meeting Allan recognised pay as being a key issue in the ICO and across the Department for Constitutional Affairs.

On 4 July 2007, before the Constitutional Affairs Committee, Allan was asked whether he had written an article for MP Vera Baird in the Times. He denied the accusation. [cite web |url=http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm200506/cmselect/cmconst/uc566-iii/uc56602.htm |title=Minutes of evidence before Constitutional Affairs Committee |date=2006-06-04 |publisher=United Kingdom Parliament |accessdate=2008-07-05]

Chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC)

On 15 November 2007 he was appointed Chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee and Head of Intelligence Assessment. Allan's role is to collect intelligence from the Security Service, MI5, the Secret Intelligence Service, MI6, GCHQ and other sources of intelligence, and present them to ministers as threats develop. [cite web |url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hrj2pSrv_nvp2eU8K89GHBqWl8TQD91N1VG86 |title=Senior British intelligence official is in coma |publisher=Associated Press through google |date=2008-07-04 |accessdate=2007-07-05] He has access to the Prime Minister at all times and also top secret US and UK intelligence reports.

Personal life

Allan married artist Katie Clemson in 1978. She died on 23 November 2007. In the personal sphere he is responsible for a Grateful Dead lyric and song finder website. [cite web |url=http://www3.clearlight.com/~acsa/intro.htm |title=Grateful Dead Lyric And Song Finder |work=Allan, Alex |accessdate=2008-07-05] Allan windsurfed to work in a suit and bowler hat down the Thames during a train strike.cite news |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1569511/New-intelligence-chief-reveals-all-on-website.html |title=New intelligence chief reveals all on website |last=Winnett |first=Robert |publisher=Daily Telegraph |date=2007-11-16 |accessdate=2008-07-06] He published his personal details on his own website, including his address, telephone number and details of family and friends, which was described by a security official as "a serious breach". Allan lists bridge and computers as his interests.

Illness

On 3 July 2008 it was reported that Allan was unconscious and seriously ill in hospital after he collapsed at his home earlier in the week. Government sources said that there was no sign of foul play. [cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7488971.stm |publisher=BBC | title=Top spy seriously ill in hospital |date=2008-07-04 |accessdate=2008-07-05] It has been suggested by the media that Mr Allan was poisoned by one of several organisations, including Al Qaeda, or the Russia Government but this was dismissed by New Scotland Yard.cite news |url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1031733/British-super-spy-coma-amid-fears-poisoning-Russian-assassin.html |title=British spy chief in coma as Yard denies assassination claims |date=2008-07-04 |last=Brogan |first=Benedict |publisher=Daily Mail |accessdate=2008-07-05] On 10 July 2008 a Cabinet Office spokesman said Allan had regained consciousness but for now will remain in hospital to regain his strength. [cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7500847.stm |publisher=BBC | title=UK spying chief emerges from coma |date=2008-07-10 |accessdate=2008-07-13] Since then, there have been no other media reports about his condition.

References

External links

* [http://www3.clearlight.com/~acsa/ Whitegum.com] - personal website
*cite web | title=Alex Allan: Career | work=Alex and Katie's Home Page | url=http://www3.clearlight.com/~acsa/CV2.htm | accessdate=2006-04-09
*cite web | title=Alex Allan | work=Department for Constitutional Affairs | url=http://www.dca.gov.uk/dept/changprog/member_aallan.htm | accessdate=2006-04-09