Lord Sainsbury, the Science Minister, today announced the appointment of Professor Sir Graeme Davies as Chair of the Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils (CCLRC).

Sir Graeme will succeed Dr Brian Eyre on 1 October 2001 and the appointment is for 4 years.

Announcing the appointment Lord Sainsbury said:

" Professor Sir Graeme Davies' experience makes him the ideal Chair of the CCLRC. I am sure that he will be invaluable to the running of the council's world-class research facilities."

The CCLRC provides national research facilities for the UK science community.

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1. The appointment of Professor Sir Graeme Davies has been made following an open competition undertaken in accordance with the Guidance on Appointments to Public Bodies of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

2. Prior to his role as Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University, Sir Graeme has been Chief Executive of the Higher Education Funding Council for England; the Universities Funding Council; and the Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council and Vice-Chancellor of Liverpool University. He trained as a material scientist and was Professor of Metallurgy at the University of Sheffield. He is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

3. Sir Graeme Davies is not active on behalf of any political party.

4. As Chair, Sir Graeme will be paid an honorarium of ?26,600 for the first year of his appointment. This will be reviewed at the end of that period in the light of the expected future level of time commitment.

5. The Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils (CCLRC) was established by Royal Charter under the Science and Technology Act 1965. It has a key role in providing the national facilities and technical expertise for very large instruments such as neutron and synchrotron x-ray sources and lasers. It operates for the benefit and use of the UK science community at large. Approximately 14,000 people use the various CCLRC facilities. It also co-ordinates UK research programmes in space and particle physics. More details can be found at www.cclrc.ac.uk

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First published: 22 August 2001