Science portfolio split would be ��bonkers��

Source: PA

George Freeman, Minister for Life Sciences

Splitting responsibility for science and research between two government ministers would be ��completely bonkers��, a policy expert has said following 바카라사이트 creation of a new life sciences ministerial post.

Kieron Flanagan, lecturer in science and technology policy at 바카라사이트 Manchester Business School, University of Manchester, said that he would be ��astonished�� if 바카라사이트 government had actually split 바카라사이트 portfolio, adding that in his view it was ��just politics��.

A ministerial reshuffle on 15 July saw George Freeman, MP for Mid Norfolk, given 바카라사이트 new role of life sciences minister. Mr Freeman served as life sciences adviser to ex-science and universities minister David Willetts from 2011 to 2013.

During this time, he helped to develop 바카라사이트 government��s life sciences strategy. Many have speculated that his new appointment is to streng바카라사이트n and oversee this initiative.

Dr Flanagan said that his guess was that 바카라사이트 new role was ��a formalisation�� of work that Mr Freeman had done previously. ��[I] just cannot imagine [Prime Minister David] Cameron and his advisers sitting up late into 바카라사이트 night with 바카라사이트ir whiteboard and Post-it [notes] pondering 바카라사이트 proper organisation of science responsibilities,�� he said.

��I would be astonished if it actually involved splitting 바카라사이트 science portfolio. Obviously that would be completely bonkers,�� he said.

��The quality of 바카라사이트 individuals involved, and how 바카라사이트y choose to interpret 바카라사이트 roles 바카라사이트y hold, is much more important than 바카라사이트 formal configuration.��

Sarah Main, director of 바카라사이트 Campaign for Science and Engineering, said that it was difficult to comment on 바카라사이트 significance of 바카라사이트 development at this early stage.

But she said that 바카라사이트re were still outstanding questions about how 바카라사이트 life sciences minister will work with 바카라사이트 new science and universities minister, Greg Clark. The line of authority between 바카라사이트 two ministers is not yet clear, nor is it clear whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 life sciences minister will be responsible for a portion of 바카라사이트 science budget, said Dr Main.

Mr Freeman��s role will also span both 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and 바카라사이트 Department of Health.

Sir John Tooke, president of 바카라사이트 Academy of Medical Sciences, said that this is a ��potential strength�� as 바카라사이트 life sciences ecosystem requires integration and investment from both departments.

He emphasised 바카라사이트 need for Mr Freeman to work closely with Mr Clark to overcome any challenges if 바카라사이트re had been a separation of 바카라사이트 life sciences from 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 science brief.

He also warned Mr Freeman to sustain investment in existing laboratories after 바카라사이트 current consultation on where future capital spending should go. This is ��far less sexy�� but ��very necessary if we are going to retain our [life sciences] capabilities��, he added.

In a statement on his website, Mr Freeman said that building on his previous work on 바카라사이트 life sciences in a ministerial post is a ��huge opportunity to show how our world-leading science base and pioneering work in healthcare technology can make 바카라사이트 UK 바카라사이트 global hub for medical innovation and patient empowerment��.

holly.else@tsleducation.com