Britain is looking for a new real-life "Q", the eccentric boffin behind the gadgets designed for fictional superspy James Bond, according to an advert in The Sunday Times. Suitable candidates for the post of chief executive of the Defence Science Technology Laboratory (Dstl) will have strong scientific or engineering credentials as well as senior management experience, it says. If successful, they will take charge of more than 3,000 defence scientists and enjoy an "attractive" six-figure salary and be based "near Salisbury", southwest England. That is thought to be a reference to the government's top secret chemical and biologial facility at Porton Down. In the James Bond films the role of "Q" was played by actor Desmond Llewelyn and latterly by John Cleese. But while 007's "Q" came up with gadgets like underwater or invisible cars and wrist-watch grenades, the real-life scientists are said to have invented spy tools like the high-tech communications device disguised as a rock. The rock was described by Russia's intelligence agency as "a miracle of technology" when it was discovered in a Moscow park in January, sparking a diplomatic row with London, the Sunday Times said. Other inventions at the organisation, which has a turnover of 350 million pounds (510 million euros, 640 million dollars) a year, are designed for more widespread use by the British army and intelligence community.
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