ELLESMERE and Neston MP Andrew Miller has swapped legislation for a lab coat.

Mr Miller visited Dr Tom Price at the University of Liverpool as part of a pairing scheme run by the Royal Society – the UK national academy of science.

He spent the day observing a range of important projects at the Institute of Integrative Biology, which included studies of drought-resistant plants and a discussion on sickle cell within the cod family, as well as a hands-on experiment with Dr Price investigating why male fruit flies that are highly aggressive win fights with other males but are unattractive to females.

Mr Miller said: “We live in a world facing increasing challenges that can only be addressed with a clear understanding of science.

“From climate change to influenza outbreaks, GM food to nuclear power, MPs have to make decisions about complex issues that will affect the lives of all those in the UK and, in many cases, more widely throughout the world.

This means that MPs and scientists have a responsibility to engage with each other to get the best possible scientific advice into public policy making.

“It was particularly relevant for me to getter a better understanding of this important field of biosciences, some of which is being conducted within my own constituency and which I would not have been aware of had it not been for the Royal Society Pairing Scheme.”

The scheme is an opportunity for MPs to become better informed about science issues and for scientists to understand how they can influence science policy.

More than 200 pairs of scientists and MPs have taken part in the scheme since it was launched in 2001.