Dominic Cummings quit as Boris Johnson’s chief aide last year
(Picture: PA Wire)Dominic Cummings is to be questioned by MPs over the Government’s new “high-risk” scientific research agency that he championed before his dramatic departure from No 10.
In his first public appearance since quitting as Boris Johnson’s chief aide, Mr Cummings will be grilled by the Commons Science and Technology Committee on Wednesday morning.
He will give evidence on the Advanced Research & Invention Agency (Aria) that he is seen as being the architect of, and has raised concerns of a lack of transparency.
The committee is chaired by Tory MP Greg Clark, the former cabinet minister against whom Mr Cummings allegedly launched a foul-mouthed tirade against in 2019, ahead of a key Brexit vote.
Experts will be given £800 million of funding to identify and fund research involving “high-risk, high-reward” science and will have independence from the Government.
The abrasive former Vote Leave director was previously found to be in contempt of Parliament for refusing to give evidence to MPs on a committee investigating misinformation.
He was last seen exiting Downing Street in November after a bitter power-struggle within No 10 spilled out into the open.
Mr Cummings’ appearance before MPs will be followed by that of Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng who is setting up the agency.
