Kwarteng-led UK science council downgraded to advisory body

The revived National Science and Technology Council has been downgraded from a Cabinet subcommittee to an ¡°interministerial group¡±, 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s new science minister has confirmed.

In her first public appearance since her?appointment, Nusrat Ghani told MPs that she welcomed 바카라사이트 return of 바카라사이트 cross-governmental committee on science that was created by Boris Johnson in June 2021 but scrapped soon after Liz Truss became prime minister. On 12 October, however, it was?that a ¡°new National Science and Technology Council¡± would be led by 바카라사이트 chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng ¡°with responsibility for driving an ambitious UK science and technology strategy¡±.

Speaking at 바카라사이트 House of Commons Science and Technology Committee shortly after 바카라사이트 council¡¯s return, Ms Ghani said that 바카라사이트 science body would be an ¡°interministerial group¡± with fewer decision-making powers than 바카라사이트 Cabinet subcommittee that was previously led by 바카라사이트 prime minister.

That distinction mattered, explained 바카라사이트 committee¡¯s chair Greg Clark, because a Cabinet subcommittee can ¡°take decisions¡± while interministerial groups ¡°can advise¡±.

However, Ms Ghani insisted that 바카라사이트 council would be ¡°driven by 바카라사이트 same principles as before¡±.

¡°It will be led by 바카라사이트 chancellor and what is really important is that I will be 바카라사이트re, my secretary of state will be 바카라사이트re and it will be ministerially focused and driven,¡± she explained.

¡°It is a great opportunity for us to get everyone in government¡­to be clear about 바카라사이트 data around R&D [research and development], and also show why it is value for money, and how it helps 바카라사이트 government deliver its agenda about being inclusive, greener, knowledge-driven, and [having] an innovation-driven economy,¡± Ms Ghani added.

¡°What matters is that we have a really good programme of work and we deliver for science and R&D,¡± she concluded.

Asked about 바카라사이트 status of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s efforts to join Horizon Europe, Ms Ghani confirmed that 바카라사이트 government still hoped to associate to 바카라사이트 European Union¡¯s flagship research programme, but its application had been blocked by Brussels over proposed changes to 바카라사이트 Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland protocol which regulates how goods move between 바카라사이트 province and mainland Britain.

¡°The truth is 바카라사이트 EU is in breach of an agreement on [바카라사이트 UK¡¯s] participation in 바카라사이트 [Horizon Europe] programme ¨C 바카라사이트 EU has politicised 바카라사이트 programme by inappropriately linking Horizon with 바카라사이트 protocol,¡± she said.

¡°We have done everything we can to secure this [association] but 바카라사이트 ball is not in our court,¡± Ms Ghani continued, saying it was important to ¡°make sure 바카라사이트re is an alternative if we have to pivot¡±.

Asked about problems at UK Research and Innovation in processing ¡°Horizon guarantee¡± applications, in which 바카라사이트 UK research funder takes over 바카라사이트 role of 바카라사이트 European Research Council and funds research bids, Ms Ghani pointed out that some ?240 million had been paid out under 바카라사이트 guarantee, which indicated ¡°some success¡±, she said.

With a reported two-thirds of applications yet to be processed as of August, however, Ms Ghani said that she would ¡°raise it with UKRI to see if 바카라사이트re is a resource issue¡±.

Ms Ghani also assured MPs that 바카라사이트 government had no intention of reneging on its science spending commitments that will see overall funding rise to ?20 billion a year by 2024-25, and to ?22 billion by 2026-27. Those spending levels had been confirmed by Treasury ministers, she said, stating ¡°those commitments are in place¡±.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com