Science Minister Profiles

Labour Minister For Science & Innovation - The Rt Hon Lord Drayson

Born 5 March 1960, Paul Rudd Drayson holds a BSc (Hons) in Production Engineering and a PhD in Robotics. In 1993, he co-founded PowderJect Pharmaceuticals plc which specialised in the rights purchase and re-selling of vaccines where he was Chief Executive until 2003 when the company was sold for £540m.

Elevated to the House of Lords as Baron Drayson of Kensington in 2004, he jointly holds the position of Minister for Science and Innovation in conjunction with a senior Ministerial procurement role in the Ministry of Defence. He is responsible for the Technology Strategy Board, Research Councils, Space, National Measurement Office, Design Council, National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts, Energy Technologies Institute, Commission for Environment Markets and Economic Performance, British Standards. Drayson and his family live between homes in London and Nether Lypiatt Manor in Gloucestershire and is a car racer and car enthusiast.

Conservative Shadow Minister For Science & Innovation - Adam Afriyie

Born 4 August 1965, Adam Afriyie gained a BSc in Agricultural Economics before going on to become a founding Director of an IT services company, Connect Support Services in 1992, of which he remains an Executive Director. He is also nonexecutive Chairman of the news and information company Adfero Ltd, and a former Governor of the Museum of London. A keen sportsman and marathon runner for charity, Mr Afriyie entered Parliament in May 2005, was selected for the ‘safe’ tory seat of Windsor and became Shadow Minister of Science in July 2007. He has served on a large number of parliamentary committees including the Science and Technology committee and is also the Shadow Minister for Innovation, Universities and Skills. Divorced and now married to his second wife, he and his family live between homes in London and old Windsor.

Liberal Democrats Shadow Minister For Science - Evan Harris

Born 1965, Evan Harris holds a BA in Physiology and qualified as a Doctor in 1991 where he worked as an NHS hospital doctor and then a public health research doctor. He entered Parliament in 1997 and has held various Shadow posts including Secretary of State for Health prior to his current roles of Shadow Ministers for Science and for Innovation, Universities and Skills. He serves on the House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee, the Joint Commons/Lords Select Committee on Human Rights, the BMA Medical Ethics Committee and is Honorary President of the Lib Dem Campaign for Lesbian and Gay Rights.
He is a well-known and outspoken supporter of lessening restrictions on abortion and euthanasia, supports the use of human embryos in research and a strong defender of animal experimentation. A divorcee, Dr Harris lives between his home in Oxfordshire and his London flat. His personal hobbies include football, squash, chess and bridge.