Irrelevant past

It was somewhat bemusing to read in the report on the appointment of Malcolm Wicks as the new Science Minister ("Sainsbury's review role raises questions", November 17) the comments attributed to Phil Willis, chair of the Commons Science and Technology Select Committee.

He is quoted as saying: "With his social science background, he will be good at communicating science to the general public."

Wicks may be a sound appointment to this ministerial post, but quite how having been a fellow and lecturer in social administration will make him good at communicating science eludes me.

Paul Trayhurn.
Liverpool University