24 Facts About Alex Allan

Sir Alexander Claud Stuart Allan was born on 9 February 1951 and is a British civil servant who served as chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee and Head of Intelligence Assessment for Her Majesty's Government between 2007 and 2011.

Alex Allan resigned as the Prime Minister's Independent advisor on ministerial standards in November 2020.

Between 1964 and 1969 Alex Allan was educated at Harrow School, followed by obtaining a BA degree in Mathematics from Clare College, Cambridge in 1972.

Alex Allan was the first Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, having been the last Permanent Secretary of the Department for Constitutional Affairs from which it was created, together with the addition of HM Prison Service and the Office for Criminal Justice Reform, which were taken from the Home Office.

Alex Allan served in both of these roles from 1 August 2004 to 15 November 2007.

Alex Allan was the last Permanent Secretary and Clerk of the Crown in Chancery to enjoy this splendid room, which he agreed to surrender to the House Authorities so that they could provide suitable accommodation for the newly created Lord Speaker.

On 17 October 2006, Alex Allan submitted oral evidence to the Constitutional Affairs Committee.

Alex Allan was questioned on the 're-organisation of the centre of the Department' which he stated in his annual report.

Alex Allan was asked what he thought were the key changes he had made to the department since his two years in the post.

Alex Allan stated that the key changes to the Department for Constitutional affairs were structural.

Alex Allan admitted the department faced big challenges and that there was a lot still to be done.

Alex Allan was questioned over the 'chaos' of the Oracle system.

On 6 February 2007 Alex Allan attended a meeting with the management board for the Information Commissioner's Office.

Alex Allan's duty was to brief the board about the Department for Constitutional Affairs' approach to information rights and the ICO itself.

On 4 July 2007, before the Constitutional Affairs Committee, Alex Allan was asked whether he had written an article for MP Vera Baird in The Times.

Alex Allan's role was 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 developed.

Alex Allan had access to the Prime Minister at all times and top secret US and UK intelligence reports.

Alex Allan was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the 2012 New Year Honours.

Alex Allan resigned from the post on 20 November 2020 after PM Boris Johnson backed Priti Patel following a report Allan had compiled that concluded that Patel's approach "amounted to behaviour that can be described as bullying" and that she had "not consistently met the high standards expected of her".

Alex Allan is responsible for a Grateful Dead lyric and song finder website.

Alex Allan windsurfed to work in a suit and bowler hat down the River Thames during a train strike.

Alex Allan 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".

On 3 July 2008 it was reported that Alex Allan was unconscious and seriously ill in hospital after he collapsed at his home earlier in the week.

On 10 July 2008 a Cabinet Office spokesman said Alex Allan had regained consciousness but for now would remain in hospital to regain his strength.