§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the change in his Department's post of chief scientist.
§ Mr. HeseltineOver the last 18 months I have redefined the Department's science and technology policies to relate more closely to my overall focus on competitiveness and to the Government White Paper on Science and Technology. In recognition of this, elements of the recently announced organisational change in my Department involve the integration of delivery of these policies with the sectoral and regional organisation for the support of industry.
One result of this reorganisation, which will take effect on 1 March 1994, is that the rationale for the post of chief adviser on science and technology in its present form no longer applies. Therefore a successor to the current holder, Dr Geoffrey Robinson, will not be appointed when Dr Robinson returns to the private sector at the beginning of March. Dr David Evans—formerly chief scientist at the Department of Energy—has been appointed head of the technology and innovation policy division, and will have overall responsibility for the Department's science and technology policies and programmes.