I was delighted
this week to
have been asked
by David Cameron
to take a front
bench role as
Shadow Minister
for Innovation,
Universities and
Skills.
Naturally, the
last few days
have be spent
getting to grips
with the new
role! Having
been a member of
the Science and
Technology
Select Committee
over the past
two years, I am
fortunate to
already be
familiar with
many of the
issues at the
heart of Science
and Innovation.
The challenge is
to innovate in
order to stay
ahead of world
competition.
Sadly, there are
some very tough
issues to be
tackled with the
worrying
downward trend
in Science,
Technology,
Engineering and
Maths graduates
from British
universities.
With new
economies around
the world
developing and
growing stronger
every year, it
is vital that
our universities
and research
councils produce
the skilled
workforce needed
if we wish to
maintain our
position on the
global economic
stage.
Business also
has an important
part to play as
it invests in
new technologies
and provides
more employment
for our
graduates and I
am optimistic
that a
Conservative
government will
enable
innovation and
enterprise to
flourish. But
there is much to
be done and I am
looking forward
to getting to
know the brief
and, along with
my colleagues,
playing a role
in holding the
Government
directly to
account.
