MPs' doubts about research boss

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Concerns that the chairman of the Medical Research Council is not the right man for the job have been expressed by a committee of MPs.

Sir John Chisholm was criticised for being "vague" and "evasive", in his answers to the Commons Science and Technology Committee.

He took over at the government-funded MRC, in October 2006.

An MRC spokesman said it would contribute to the government's response to the MPs' report "in due course".

The committee said one of its roles was to scrutinise major appointments made by the Trade and Industry Secretary, to ensure "that the post has been filled with someone of sufficient calibre".

'Open to scrutiny'

But in its report, the committee criticised Sir John, for giving differing answers on how he was approached for the job - a process they said should be "transparent and open to scrutiny".

It also criticised the "informal way" in which consultants Ernst and Young were appointed to conduct a review into the way the new Office for Strategic Coordination of Health Research would impact on the MRC.

Based on our inquiry, we are not convinced that Sir Jon Chisholm is the right man for the job Phil Willis

It questioned the findings of the joint review, which recommended that the MRC council be reduced from 17 members to 12.

The MPs said no evidence had been provided that the current number of members was ineffective in decision making.

They said Sir John "lacked the necessary knowledge" to discuss the MRC's relationship with other councils, and said his explanation of a decision to boost contingency funding was "unsatisfactory".

The report concluded: "We have serious reservations as to whether Sir John is the right person to guide the MRC Executive through the coming period of change."

Phil Willis, the committee's Lib Dem chairman, said: "The MRC is entering an exciting period of change and requires exemplary leadership, based on clarity of purpose, knowledge of the sector and candid and inspiring communication.

"Based on our inquiry, we are not convinced that Sir Jon Chisholm is the right man for the job."