Scientific Advisory Panel

HC Deb 21 January 1965 vol 705 cc129-30W

Lady Megan Lloyd George

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what arrangements he proposes to make for securing advice on the scientific aspects of questions arising within the field of his Department.

Mr. Peart

I have gone into this question following the retirement of Sir Harold Sanders from the post of Chief Scientific Adviser (Agriculture).

My predecessors have greatly benefited from the advice of the distinguished scientists who have held this post and I should like to add my own tribute to the value of the work which they have done. At the same time it seemed to me that there would be advantage in my having available independent advice on all the multifarious problems with scientific implications with which my Department is concerned—and not only in the field of agriculture. These fields could not in any event be covered by any single individual, however eminent.

I also felt that there would be positive advantage in securing this advice from persons still associated with the universities.

I have, therefore, decided to establish a Scientific Advisory Panel under the Chairmanship of Professor A. C. Frazer of Birmingham University. This Panel will be available to advise me on the scientific aspects of any questions affecting the activities of my Department which I may refer to them. The Panel will also be free to offer me their advice on any problems in this field whenever in their view this is desirable.

The responsibilities of the heads of the scientific branches in my Ministry will not be affected in any way by these new arrangements. On the other hand I hope that the establishment of the Panel will lead to closer links between the Universities and the Ministry.

The Panel will consist of: Professor A. C. Frazer, C.B.E., M.D., B.S., Ph.D., D.Sc., F.R.C.P. Professor of Medical Biochemistry and Pharmacology, University of Birmingham; Member of the Agricultural Research Council; President, British Food Manufacturing Industries Research Association; President, British Industrial Biological Research Association. Professor T. A. Bennet-Clark, M.A., Ph.D., F.R.S., Professor of Botany at Nottingham and London Universities 1936–1962; Professor of Biology and Dean of the School of Biological Studies, University of East Anglia, from 1962; Member of the Agricultural Research Council. Professor E. B. Chain, M.A., Ph.D., F.R.S., Professor of Biochemistry, University of London at Imperial College. Professor M. McG. Cooper, B.Agri.Sci., B.Litt., F.R.S.E., Dean of Agriculture and Professor of Agriculture and Rural Economy, University of Newcastle-on-Tyne; Member of the Agricultural Advisory Council. Professor 0. W. Richards, M.A., D.Sc., F.R.S., Professor of Zoology and Applied Entomology, Imperial College, London. Sir John Ritchie, C.B., B.Sc., D.V.Sc., F.R.S.V.S., D.V.S.M., F.R.S.E., at present Chief Veterinary Officer, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, but shortly retiring to take up the post of Principal and Dean of the Royal Veterinary College, London.