New UK science minister faces a full inbox as concern grows for R&D target

The UK’s sixth science minister in as many years, has been welcomed by the research community as it anxiously awaits the outcome of next month’s spending review.

George Freeman, the former – and only – life sciences minister yet, returned to the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) in this month’s reshuffle. Aside from the outcome of the Treasury’s spending plans he inherits a full inbox, including the setting up of the new advanced research agency (ARIA), the formation of a new strategy for the Office for Science and Technology and whatever emerges from an in progress review of the UK’s research environment.