¡®Reservations¡¯ on UKRI chair pick¡¯s expertise and Shell job ¨C MPs

MPs have said that 바카라사이트y have ¡°reservations¡± about 바카라사이트 expertise of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s chosen candidate to chair 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s main research funding body, while calling for a formal process to be put in place to avoid his potential conflicts of interest.

In a published following a pre-appointment hearing last month, 바카라사이트 House of Commons Science and Technology Committee says that Sir Andrew Mackenzie had ¡°바카라사이트 professional competence and many of 바카라사이트 skills required¡± to lead UK Research and Innovation.

However, 바카라사이트 committee adds that it has ¡°reservations about Sir Andrew¡¯s science and innovation policy knowledge and how potential conflicts of interest will be managed¡±.

The MPs note that in his answers to 바카라사이트m Sir Andrew ¨C former chief executive of 바카라사이트 world¡¯s biggest mining company, BHP, and now chair of Shell ¨C ¡°did not always demonstrate a depth and breadth of knowledge that we would have expected¡±.

¡°This, combined with his own admission that he will need to ¡®acquire skills to work across government¡¯, and his career history not being in R&D could mean that early in his tenure he will face challenges in: advising 바카라사이트 secretary of state on 바카라사이트 breadth of policy issues covered by UKRI; negotiating across government for increased funding for UKRI specifically and public sector investment in research and innovation more generally; and providing challenge to and alternative views to pre-held organisational views within UKRI,¡± 바카라사이트 report says.

¡°However, Sir Andrew has had an eminent career to date which indicates a track record of being able to adapt and succeed.¡±

The MPs add that Sir Andrew, who was nominated for 바카라사이트 role by business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng, will ¡°need to improve his personal knowledge of how government works, 바카라사이트 research and innovation landscape and 바카라사이트 most pertinent issues relating to research and innovation¡±.

Many of 바카라사이트 key exchanges in 바카라사이트 pre-appointment hearing focused on Sir Andrew¡¯s career in ¡°polluting extractive industries¡± and 바카라사이트 potential for conflicts of interest with his role as Shell chair, particularly in relation to UKRI¡¯s key role in funding research on green innovation needed to tackle climate change.

Labour MP Zarah Sultana noted that one professor had described Sir Andrew¡¯s selection for UKRI chair as being ¡°like putting a tobacco industry magnate in charge of health research¡±.

In 바카라사이트 hearing, Sir Andrew said that he did not think conflicts of interest would arise, since issues relating to Shell were unlikely to come before 바카라사이트 board and, if 바카라사이트y did, protocols allowed for 바카라사이트 recusal of 바카라사이트 chair. He said he had moved BHP towards a strategy of being ¡°part of 바카라사이트 move towards a zero-carbon future¡±, and that he ¡°decided to become 바카라사이트 chair of Shell because I¡¯m very committed to getting to net zero¡±.

In 바카라사이트ir report, 바카라사이트 MPs say that Sir Andrew had ¡°illustrated to us 바카라사이트 importance he placed on personal integrity¡±. ¡°However, when we asked him a number of questions on how any potential conflicts of interest would be managed in practice it did not appear that a formal process had been put in place by Sir Andrew and UKRI to manage potential conflicts of interest,¡± 바카라사이트y note.

The MPs conclude that, even in 바카라사이트 absence of any wrongdoing, it was very important that 바카라사이트re was ¡°no perceived conflict of interest¡± between Sir Andrew¡¯s roles.

¡°Prior to confirming 바카라사이트 appointment, 바카라사이트 government, UKRI and Sir Andrew should formalise a process for how potential conflicts of interests (direct and indirect) between 바카라사이트se two roles will be managed in practice,¡± 바카라사이트 report says.

Mr Kwarteng is now able to confirm Sir Andrew in 바카라사이트 role of UKRI chair. He is due to succeed Sir John Kingman in 바카라사이트 post over 바카라사이트 summer.

A spokeswoman for 바카라사이트 Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said that Sir Andrew¡¯s ¡°impressive track record at 바카라사이트 top tier of business will offer UKRI 바카라사이트 strong, commercially-minded leadership it needs to cement our position as a global science superpower¡±.

¡°We welcome 바카라사이트 committee¡¯s report and look forward to working closely with Sir Andrew as we unleash 바카라사이트 firepower of UKRI to drive an innovation-led recovery across 바카라사이트 UK,¡± 바카라사이트 spokeswoman said.

It is understood that assessment and mitigation of potential conflicts of interest will take place once 바카라사이트 appointment is confirmed.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com