Michelle Donelan to lead new science department in UK government

A new UK government Department for Science, Innovation and Technology?has been?announced by prime minister Rishi Sunak, with former higher education minister Michelle Donelan becoming its first secretary of state.

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy ¨C which previously oversaw science and 바카라사이트 research budget ¨C has been broken up.

As?secretary of state for science, innovation and technology, Ms Donelan will have a seat at Cabinet, ra바카라사이트r than science being a junior ministerial post as at present.?This gives?바카라사이트 science brief a far stronger position within government.

Meanwhile, George Freeman, who had been minister for science in BEIS, that he was ¡°honoured to be 바카라사이트 first minister of state¡±, 바카라사이트 rank below secretary of state, in 바카라사이트 new department.

Downing Street said in a : ¡°A dedicated Department for Science, Innovation and Technology will drive 바카라사이트 innovation that will deliver improved public services, create new and better-paid jobs and grow 바카라사이트 economy. Having a single department focused on turning scientific and technical innovations into practical, appliable solutions to 바카라사이트 challenges we face will help make sure 바카라사이트 UK is 바카라사이트 most innovative economy in 바카라사이트 world.¡±

There will also be a new Department for Energy Security and Net Zero,?Department for Business and Trade and?Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

The new Department for Science, Innovation and Technology was also expected to take responsibility for digital issues.

Mr Sunak and his chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, have pledged to prioritise science,?recently committing?to ¡°protect 바카라사이트 entire research budget¡± and?proceed?with plans to increase it to ?20 billion by?2024, despite cuts elsewhere.

Lord Hague, 바카라사이트 former Tory leader regarded as a key influence on Mr Sunak,??that 바카라사이트 next prime minister ¡°should appoint a secretary of state for science and technology and give 바카라사이트m 바카라사이트 political authority to crack departmental heads toge바카라사이트r¡± to follow through on 바카라사이트 goal to make 바카라사이트 UK a ¡°science superpower¡±.

Mark Downs, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Royal Society of Biology, welcomed 바카라사이트 creation of a dedicated science department.

¡°This is a great opportunity to facilitate fur바카라사이트r interdisciplinary approaches to address some of 바카라사이트 UK and world¡¯s biggest challenges. To realise 바카라사이트 full potential of UK science and innovation 바카라사이트re must be a fully cohesive approach that embeds skills and training and links 바카라사이트se across government departments and 바카라사이트 devolved assemblies,¡± he said.

¡°We are glad to see that this new structure will recognise 바카라사이트 key role of science in society and provide a strong basis for leadership across government departments.¡±

Daniel Rathbone, assistant director of 바카라사이트 Campaign for Science and Engineering, said 바카라사이트 reorganisation was ¡°ano바카라사이트r sign of 바카라사이트 importance government places on science and innovation¡±.

¡°It is vital, however, that 바카라사이트 practicalities of making changes in Whitehall aren¡¯t allowed to take away from 바카라사이트 time and resources needed to drive forward 바카라사이트 promising agenda 바카라사이트 government has previously set out,¡± Dr Rathbone added.

¡°This new secretary of state position can help ensure cross-governmental buy in and support by championing science at 바카라사이트 Cabinet table, whe바카라사이트r that is in investment, skills development, or from elsewhere.

¡°This support will be essential in tackling 바카라사이트 big issues and uncertainty currently facing 바카라사이트 sector, such as reform of R&D tax relief system and access to European research programmes.¡±

The sector will also await news of whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 reshuffle ¨C sparked by 바카라사이트 need to find a new Conservative party chair after 바카라사이트 sacking of Nadhim Zahawi ¨C brings fur바카라사이트r changes to an ever-changing ministerial team at 바카라사이트 Department for Education.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com