CHAIRMAN OF THE MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL: INTRODUCTORY HEARING: SIR JOHN CHISHOLM

  I am co-chair of the MRC 5 unions and on behalf of the national trade union side would like to welcome Sir John Chisholm as chair of the MRC.

  We have a good working relationship with MRC management and Human resources and have worked in partnership on a number of major issues over the last few years. Given the amount of change the MRC is now engaged in, including RC UK projects, a new SSC for all Research Councils and a new structure following the Cooksey report, we will continue to engage with the MRC constructively. It would be helpful to know whether Sir John intends to lead on major MRC initiatives together with the new CEO.

  Sir John will be aware of the continuing issue of NIMR and we very much hope that the future of this world class Institute can be secured as soon as possible given the unfortunate history of this project.

  Finally, a major concern for all colleagues in the MRC is that of consultation and communication. We have a good agreement on negotiation, consultation and information but this agreement is not always understood or adhered outside the centre. We hope Sir John will agree that true consultation means genuine seeking of views before decisions are taken and that communication with colleagues both through their representatives , the recognized MRC trade unions , and from Directors to their staff, (as well as from the centre to Units) is paramount.

  We look forward to more open consultation and communication in the future.

May 2006