Chris McDonald, the Labour MP for Stockton North, appears set to take responsibility for UK R&D policy following his appointment as science minister. McDonald’s role is to be split across two government departments, which observers suggest reflects a recognition of the essential role of science to both the economy and health.
Last week, one of Andy Burnham’s first acts as UK prime minister was to abolish the government’s dedicated science department. That move saw former science secretary Liz Kendall and science minister Patrick Vallance leave their posts. The science portfolio now lies with the newly established Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (DBIST), headed by business secretary Jonathan Reynolds.
According to the Labour party’s business relations team, McDonald has now been named as the minister of state for science. McDonald serves as a minister jointly between DBIST and in the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC). He previously served as minister for industry in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
A chemical engineer by training, McDonald spend 20 years working in the steel industry. Before going into politics, he served as chief executive of the Materials Processing Institute, an independent research centre with a focus on materials development. Prior to that he worked for Tata Steel, the Materials Processing Institute’s former owner. His appointment as science minister will make McDonald the 11th person charged with responsibility for the UK’s science policy in the last 10 years.
Yvonne Baker, chief executive of the Institution of Chemical Engineers welcomed McDonald’s appointment. ‘As a chemical engineer with extensive experience in industrial research and innovation Chris brings valuable technical expertise and a deep understanding of the role that science and engineering play in driving economic growth, sustainability and societal benefit,’ she said.
In a statement on the government’s new approach to R&D policy, Beth Thompson, executive director for policy and partnerships at the research funder Wellcome, pointed out that science is ‘critical’ to achieving the government’s aims. ‘To make the most of this opportunity, the new Department for Business, Science and Innovation and Trade must build on [the former science department’s] legacy. There are benefits to merging the departments, but science cannot be relegated to only serving the needs of business,’ she said. ‘DBIST must use the full strength of the UK’s science sector so it serves all corners of society. The new science minister’s joint role across DBIST and DHSC provides exactly this opportunity, ensuring cutting-edge science can drive the NHS to deliver the best outcomes for patients.’
Andrew Morris, president of the Academy of Medical Sciences, is also pleased that McDonald will serve in both the government’s business and health departments. ‘Too often, health policy, science policy, skills policy and economic policy are treated as separate agendas. In reality, they are increasingly inseparable,’ he said. ‘The joint ministerial role spanning DBIST and DHSC is a very encouraging move. Realising the full potential of research and innovation will also require close partnership with HM Treasury and the Department for Education so that research, innovation and skills development work together to deliver better health, growth and greater prosperity across the UK.’
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