Sainsbury for science

Department of Trade and Industry officials are peeved that higher education minister Baroness Blackstone spilled the beans on the identity of the new science minister. The new science supremo, Lord Sainsbury, was called back from a summer break in sunny Spain to hear the news, the baroness told the House of Commons select committee on science and technology last week. Michael Clark, who chairs the committee, expressed his delight at the announcement but nevertheless thought it unfair to call David Sainsbury to appear before the committee in an open-necked shirt. The Department of Trade and Industry has yet to confirm the appointment.