Government has left Daresbury "hanging in balance" warn MPs

Apr 30 2008 Liverpool Daily Post

SERIOUS leadership deficiencies by government science managers have left Daresbury Laboratory’s future hanging in the balance, MPs warn today.

The vision for the beleaguered Warrington campus – until recently viewed as a jewel in the crown of UK science – is more as a technology and business park, than a world-leading science and research centre, a report by an influential committee says.

Honesty from the Government is required, the MPs add, on whether it will commit to Daresbury as a centre of excellence or leave it largely in the hands of the private sector.

The House of Commons Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills select committee today publishes its report into how the Government’s science Budget was allocated.

The chair of the committee, Phil Willis, has called for the Government to clarify its Daresbury plans.

It has previously said the site is an important part of Britain’s scientific strategy but recent developments “appear to cut across” those assurances, Mr Willis said.

ŠIn the report MPs lambast the Government for not letting scientists choose how their budget is spent.

Last year’s comprehensive spending review left the Science and Technology Facilities Council – which allocates funding – with an £80m black hole in its finances.

Cuts outlined in its three-year delivery plan mean Daresbury could lose 350 of its 500 top-level science jobs.

But the MPs believe STFC’s financial woes were compounded by poor management, with chief executive Keith Mason singled out for criticism.

The report says: “The events of the past few months have exposed serious deficiencies within STFC’s senior management, whose misjudgements could still significantly damage Britain’s research reputation.”

“This raises serious questions about the role and performance of the chief executive, especially his ability to retain the confidence of the scientific community as well as to carry through the necessary changes outlined here.

“We conclude that substantial and urgent changes need to be made to the way in which the council is run in order to restore confidence and to give the council the leadership it desperately needs.”

The report also reveals Professor Swapan Chattopadhyay, director of Daresbury’s Cockcroft Institute – which is a joint venture between the laboratory and nearby universities, including Liverpool – has told the Government that on the basis of current plans, his institute “has no good reason to stay on the site”.

Daresbury’s scientists research the molecular properties of matter. Their synchrotron radiation source is closing in September but STFC refuses to confirm the site will house a replacement “national facility”.

Giving evidence to the committee, Professor Chattopadhyay said he was concerned “Daresbury would evolve into a business park with a call centre for technologists to solve a particular problem” and as such would stand little chance of making any significant scientific breakthroughs.

Professor Mason said: “A number of issues highlighted by the report have already been recognised by STFC, and I have taken decisive actions to address them over the past few months.”

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