§ Mrs. BrowningTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when the report on the detailed allocation of responsibilities between the new research councils will be completed; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaldegraveI asked Sir David Phillips to conduct this study acting as if he were fulfilling the role of the new director general for the research councils. He has now submitted his report and copies have been placed in the Library. I have accepted all of Sir David's recommendations and, I have invited him to continue to oversee the further work of the Office of Science and Technology designed to effect a smooth transition to the new research council system by 1 April 1994.
§ Sir Giles ShawTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster who is to be the new director general of research councils.
§ Mr. Waldegrave[pursuant to the reply, 19 July 1993, c. 42]: In the recent White Paper "Realising our Potential" I announced my intention to appoint a new director general of research councils to support me in the exercise of my statutory functions in so far as they relate to the research councils.
236WI am pleased to announce that this new post is to be advertised in journals and newspapers over the next week or so. The open recruitment competition, which will be supplemented by executive search, will be run by the recruitment and assessment services. My aim is to announce an appointment, to take effect from 1 January 1994, at the end of October.
In the meantime, I am most grateful to Sir David Phillips, chairman of the Advisory Board for the Research Councils, for the excellent support which he is giving me as acting director general of research councils.