Professor Pickard will head the committee that provides independent scrutiny and advice to the Scottish government, UK Government and other devolved administrations on the long term management, including interim storage and disposal, of radioactive waste. 

Announcing the appointment, Lochhead said he was: “…delighted to confirm today's appointment by Ministers from all the UK governments. I am confident that Professor Pickard is the right person to take up this challenging role and is well equipped to lead CoRWM effectively.” 

He continued: "Mr Pickard will be tasked with heading up a committee to scrutinise and advise government on the long term management of radioactive waste, including robust interim storage. As such we have sought to be actively involved in the recruitment of both the Chair and members of the Committee." 

Professor Pickard is currently the Chairman of the Consumers' Association Which?, Director-General of the British Nutrition Foundation, Emeritus Professor of Neurobiology at the University of Cardiff, Visiting Professor at the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester, and Fellow of the Institute of Biology and the Royal Society of Medicine. He is also an internationally renowned authority on the biology of honeybees and has pioneered the development of solid-state, neural microbiosensors in the UK. 

As chair Pickard will now play a role in the appointment of up to 14 further members of the Committee. The full Committee is expected to be in place by Autumn 2007 with appointments lasting three years.