Doubts over health research chief

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In a damning report, the Commons Science and Technology Committee said they were not convinced Sir John Chisholm was "the right man for the job" at the head of the body.

Sir John, who was appointed in October last year, will oversee the restructuring of the MRC, which uses taxpayers' money to support health research.

The Liberal Democrat chairman of the committee Phil Willis 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 John Chisholm is the right man for the job."

Sir John gave evidence to the committee last month, but was criticised for being vague and evasive in relation to his own appointment and the decision to hire Ernst & Young to carry out a joint review of the MRC.

Mr Willis said: "At our introductory hearing Sir John appeared to us to show a lack of focus and clarity.

"He was vague about the process of his appointment and evasive when discussing the process of appointing Ernst & Young to help with the joint review.

"He was unable to explain adequately some of the details of the joint review, such as how MRC staff and other stakeholders were consulted, his role as chairman of the Steering Group and the reasons for reducing the size of the MRC Council.

"His explanation for the policy decision to increase contingency funding was unsatisfactory and he lacked the necessary knowledge to discuss the MRC's relationship with the other research councils.

"We do not think that these shortcomings were resolved fully in his supplementary written evidence."