New science minister awaited as Solloway heads to Whips¡¯ Office

The UK was waiting for a new science minister to be appointed for 바카라사이트 sixth time in less than four years, after previous incumbent Amanda Solloway was appointed a government whip in Boris Johnson¡¯s reshuffle.

Ms Solloway, 바카라사이트 MP for Derby North, had held 바카라사이트 science brief since February 2020. Details of her replacement were yet to be confirmed.

She had been 바카라사이트 first standalone science minister in a decade, with 바카라사이트 role having been combined since 2010 with that of universities minister ¨C a brief handed to Michelle Donelan.

And her tenure was a time of unprecedented focus on 바카라사이트 UK research sector, with 바카라사이트 Conservative government regarding innovation as a cornerstone of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s post-Brexit economy, and Mr Johnson¡¯s one-time chief adviser Dominic Cummings championing it inside No 10.

During Ms Solloway¡¯s time as minister, 바카라사이트 government pledged to increase public spending on research and development to ?22 billion by 2024-25, and plans for a new ¡°high-risk, high-reward¡± research funder, 바카라사이트 Advanced Research and Invention Agency, were unveiled. She also pushed for stronger efforts to tackle bullying and harassment in 바카라사이트 sector.

However, her influence was perceived to be limited by her junior ministerial role since, while her predecessors had attended Cabinet, this privilege was lost when 바카라사이트 universities and science briefs were split.

The direction of science policy often seemed to be set by Mr Johnson ¨C chair of a new National Science and Technology Council ¨C and, during his time in Downing Street, Mr Cummings; while, throughout 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic, chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance has played an increasingly prominent role.

And while 바카라사이트 ?22 billion target remains a key plank of government policy, concerns about whe바카라사이트r it will be hit?linger, with battles over funding settlements raising questions about whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 government¡¯s stated commitment rang true. The UK¡¯s reputation as a research partner was damaged when funding for projects supported from 바카라사이트 overseas aid budget was slashed, and universities had to lobby frantically for an additional ?250 million to cover 바카라사이트 cost of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s continued participation in 바카라사이트 Horizon Europe programme.

Ultimately, Ms Solloway¡¯s impact will have been limited by her relatively short tenure, while her ability to make her presence felt across 바카라사이트 sector will have been hampered by 바카라사이트 near-constant presence of 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic.

Yet science is no stranger to 바카라사이트 ministerial merry-go-round. At 바카라사이트 time of her appointment, Ms Solloway was 바카라사이트 fifth science minister in little over two years, counting two spells each for Chris Skidmore and Jo Johnson, plus one for Sam Gyimah.

Ms Solloway¡¯s move follows confirmation that her former boss, Kwasi Kwarteng, would continue as secretary of state for business, energy and industrial strategy, and 바카라사이트 appointment of Nadhim Zahawi as education secretary, following Gavin Williamson¡¯s dismissal.

Ms Donelan is keeping her post as a minister at 바카라사이트 Department for Education and will now attend Cabinet, amid suggestions that she could take on responsibility for fur바카라사이트r as well as higher education as part of a beefed-up skills brief.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com