Chloe Smith has been named the Westminster government’s new interim secretary of state for science, innovation and technology, brought in to cover Michelle Donelan’s maternity leave.
The former secretary of state for work and pensions takes on the brief at a crucial time as the UK seeks Horizon Europe association after a long impasse.
Ms Donelan, who briefly held the role of education minister after serving in the universities brief, has been in the top position in the newly created Department for Science, Innovation and Technology since its inception by the prime minister in February.
The Cabinet-level position was created as a way of signalling Rishi Sunak’s commitment to science policy, as he seeks to realise the UK’s long-held ambition of being a science superpower.
The Chippenham MP will become just the second-ever serving Cabinet minister to take maternity leave, although she has previously said her time off would be “short”.
Ms Smith’s previous stint on the front benches was equally brief. She was brought in by Liz Truss during her short premiership last year, but left the post when Ms Truss was replaced by Mr Sunak.
The Norwich North MP has already announced she will not be standing in her constituency in the next general election, one of a number of Conservative MPs who are stepping down.
It seems unlikely, therefore, that she will initiate any major policy initiatives during her time in office.
But overseeing the long process of Horizon association – the European Union’s £90 billion research initiative – will certainly be a key part of her brief. A succession of science ministers have attempted the feat over the past few years but progress was slow due to post-Brexit wrangling over Northern Ireland trading arrangements.
The Windsor Framework agreement, signed earlier this year, had raised hopes that a deal was possible again. However, questions remain over the UK’s financial contribution, because it would be joining midway through the programme.
