Paul Gray (civil servant)
Encyclopedia
Paul Richard Charles Gray, CB
was a British
civil servant who was Chairman of HM Revenue & Customs until he resigned on 20 November 2007.
in 1969 as an economist
at HM Treasury
. During his time there he variously worked on agriculture, industry, and employment issues, and co-ordinated the Public Expenditure Survey process. Except for two years working for Booker McConnell Ltd in the late 1970s as a corporate planner, he remained at the Treasury until 1988, when he was appointed Private Secretary
for Economic Affairs to the Prime Minister
, Margaret Thatcher
.
After two years, Gray returned to the Treasury in 1990, where he worked on monetary policy
, serving as a member of the EU Monetary Committee. From 1995 to 1998 he was Director of Budget
and Public Finances, taking overall responsibility for the Finance Bill process.
(DSS) in 1998 as Group Director and head of policy. He played a major role in forming the Department for Work and Pensions
(DWP), a department created by merging the DSS, the Employment Service, and parts of the former Department for Education and Skills. He later became Second Permanent Secretary
and Managing Director, Pensions and Disability
. Whilst at the DSS he was appointed to be a Companion of the Order of the Bath
in the Birthday Honours List, 2000.
and HM Customs and Excise, as those organisations prepared to merge following the O'Donnell Review. He was subsequently appointed as Deputy Chairman of HM Revenue & Customs. On 1 September 2006 Paul Gray was appointed Acting Chairman of HMRC, following the resignation of Sir David Varney
(who moved to the Treasury). His position was confirmed as permanent in February 2007, until his "resignation" on 20 November 2007 following the loss of 25 million child benefit records
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
civil servant who was Chairman of HM Revenue & Customs until he resigned on 20 November 2007.
Early career
Paul Gray joined the Civil ServiceBritish Civil Service
Her Majesty's Home Civil Service, also known as the Home Civil Service, is the permanent bureaucracy of Crown employees that supports Her Majesty's Government - the government of the United Kingdom, composed of a Cabinet of ministers chosen by the prime minister, as well as the devolved...
in 1969 as an economist
Economist
An economist is a professional in the social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy...
at HM Treasury
HM Treasury
HM Treasury, in full Her Majesty's Treasury, informally The Treasury, is the United Kingdom government department responsible for developing and executing the British government's public finance policy and economic policy...
. During his time there he variously worked on agriculture, industry, and employment issues, and co-ordinated the Public Expenditure Survey process. Except for two years working for Booker McConnell Ltd in the late 1970s as a corporate planner, he remained at the Treasury until 1988, when he was appointed Private Secretary
Private Secretary
In the United Kingdom government, a Private Secretary is a civil servant in a Department or Ministry, responsible to the Secretary of State or Minister...
for Economic Affairs to the Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
, Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
.
After two years, Gray returned to the Treasury in 1990, where he worked on monetary policy
Monetary policy
Monetary policy is the process by which the monetary authority of a country controls the supply of money, often targeting a rate of interest for the purpose of promoting economic growth and stability. The official goals usually include relatively stable prices and low unemployment...
, serving as a member of the EU Monetary Committee. From 1995 to 1998 he was Director of Budget
Budget
A budget is a financial plan and a list of all planned expenses and revenues. It is a plan for saving, borrowing and spending. A budget is an important concept in microeconomics, which uses a budget line to illustrate the trade-offs between two or more goods...
and Public Finances, taking overall responsibility for the Finance Bill process.
Department for Work and Pensions
Gray transferred to the Department of Social SecurityDepartment of Social Security
The Department of Social Security is the name of a defunct governmental agency in the United Kingdom.The DSS replaced the older Department of Health and Social Security, from 1988 until 2001, when it was itself largely replaced as a department of the Government of the United Kingdom by the...
(DSS) in 1998 as Group Director and head of policy. He played a major role in forming the Department for Work and Pensions
Department for Work and Pensions
The Department for Work and Pensions is the largest government department in the United Kingdom, created on June 8, 2001 from the merger of the employment part of the Department for Education and Employment and the Department of Social Security and headed by the Secretary of State for Work and...
(DWP), a department created by merging the DSS, the Employment Service, and parts of the former Department for Education and Skills. He later became Second Permanent Secretary
Permanent Secretary
The Permanent secretary, in most departments officially titled the permanent under-secretary of state , is the most senior civil servant of a British Government ministry, charged with running the department on a day-to-day basis...
and Managing Director, Pensions and Disability
Disability
A disability may be physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional, developmental or some combination of these.Many people would rather be referred to as a person with a disability instead of handicapped...
. Whilst at the DSS he was appointed to be a Companion of the Order of the Bath
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
in the Birthday Honours List, 2000.
HM Revenue & Customs
In September 2004, Gray was appointed Deputy Chairman of both the Inland RevenueInland Revenue
The Inland Revenue was, until April 2005, a department of the British Government responsible for the collection of direct taxation, including income tax, national insurance contributions, capital gains tax, inheritance tax, corporation tax, petroleum revenue tax and stamp duty...
and HM Customs and Excise, as those organisations prepared to merge following the O'Donnell Review. He was subsequently appointed as Deputy Chairman of HM Revenue & Customs. On 1 September 2006 Paul Gray was appointed Acting Chairman of HMRC, following the resignation of Sir David Varney
David Varney
Sir David Robert Varney was the chairman of HM Revenue and Customs from its establishment in April 2005 to the end of August 2006. David Varney was named as a recipient of a knighthood in the 2006 New Year's honours list...
(who moved to the Treasury). His position was confirmed as permanent in February 2007, until his "resignation" on 20 November 2007 following the loss of 25 million child benefit records