Bill Jeffrey

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Sir William Alexander (Bill) Jeffrey, KCB (28th February 1948-) is a British civil servant, currently Permanent Secretary for Defence in the UK.

Jeffrey was educated at Allan Glen's School, Glasgow, and Glasgow University. He joined the Home Office in 1971.

In April 2005 he joined the Cabinet Office as Security and Intelligence Coordinator, where he was the Prime Minister's principal adviser on security, intelligence, and counter-terrorism strategy. In September 2005 he was announced Permanent Secretary for Defence.^[1] Already a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB), he was made Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in the 2007 New Year Honours List.

[edit] Criticism

Jeffrey has been criticised by the Public Accounts Committee chairman Edward Leigh for prioritizing the renovating of leisure facilities over the "unacceptable housing" conditions for troops and their families.^[2] The paper said 19,000 service homes were in disrepair, half of all single accommodation was "below par" and that some servicemen would have to wait 20 years for improvements.^[2] Edward Leigh said: "...you (Bill Jeffrey) have cut £13.5 million of essential work out of regional prime contracts, but you have obliged the same contractors to do £45 million on other projects, including resurfacing tennis courts and building all-weather pitches.^[3]

[edit] Offices held

Government offices
Preceded by Sir Kevin Tebbit	Permanent Under Secretary of the Ministry of Defence 2005 - present	Succeeded by Current Incumbent

[edit] References

1. ^ New Permanent Secretary Appointments announced. Office of the Prime Minister (September 28th, 2005).
2. ^ ^{a b} "Troops 'wait 20 years for adequate housing'", Telegraph. Retrieved on 2008-01-09. 
3. ^ "Examination of Witnesses (Questions 1-19)", Parliament. Retrieved on 2008-01-09.