1.  The Government welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the Committee's review of progress since the Government's Response published on 27 February 2007[1], taking into account the statements made by the Science Minister, Ian Pearson, MP, during the Estimates Day Debate on 9 July 2007[2] and any further areas of progress, as appropriate.

  2.  In its Response and during the Estimates Day Debate, the Government recognised that there is always room for improvement and welcomed the positive contribution of the Committee's scrutiny.

  3.  Progress in 2007 can find its roots in earlier reform and initiatives, supported by the contributions of the Committee and directed by a firm commitment to the importance of science and scientific evidence to the business of Government. As the Science Minister, Ian Pearson, stated, "In the 2002 spending review, we announced the largest sustained growth in science expenditure for at least a generation, and that growth continues. We have strengthened departmental use of science and research by appointing chief scientific advisers in most Departments. We have strengthened the use of scientific analysis in policy making through the publication of guidelines that set out how evidence should be sought and applied, and through the code of practice on scientific advisory committees. We are now working with Departments to ensure that the value of those approaches is recognised and applied".[3]

  4.  The Government also draws the Committee's attention to several landmarks in the continuing improvement in the application of scientific advice into evidence based policy-making, including:

—  The widespread development of departmental science and innovation strategies.

—  The rolling programme of Science Reviews conducted by the Government Office for Science (formerly OSI). Science Reviews have been completed for Department for Culture, Museums and Sport; Defra; Health and Science Executive; Department for Communities and Local Government. Current Reviews are underway for the Home Office and Department of Health.

—  The recent report of the Select Committee on Public Administration, "Governing the Future", commended the work of the Foresight programme and its ability to undertake systematic strategic thinking to advise the Government about future threats and opportunities. [4]The Foresight programme continues to reinforce cross-Government working, the use of rigorous independent peer review and delivers a clear policy focus.

—  The Horizon Scanning Centre's programme, which was launched in March 2005, examines future threats and opportunities for Government policies. It draws on the full range of evidence, including science and technology. The centre contributed materially to Treasury's planning and risk assessment ahead of the latest Comprehensive Spending Review (Long Term Opportunities and Challenges, November 2006, Chapter 5) [5]by identifying eight technology clusters with the potential to disrupt or enhance policies.

  4.  Throughout this period the Government has benefited from the advice of the Government Chief Scientific Adviser whose independent voice has reinforced many of the issues that still confront Government and require continued improvement. Sir David King also gave independent evidence directly to the Committee's Inquiry.

DEVELOPMENTS SINCE THE COMMITTEE'S REPORT AND THE GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSE

  5.  Many of the Committee's Recommendations have been captured in a number of actions and proposed actions by the Government and by the Government Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir David King.

  6.  In particular:

—  The Government welcomed the focus of the Committee's Report on the importance of Scientific Advisory Committees. In response to the many relevant issues identified by Recommendations of the Committee Inquiry, the Government started a public consultation on 25 June 2007 to update the Code of Practice on Scientific Advisory Committees (CoPSAC). That public consultation included a public meeting and workshop on 5 September. The Consultation closes on 16 September 2007. The Government intend to issue a revised Code and a Government Response to the consultation before the end of 2007. An early review has identified 81 SACs currently operating; that list will be updated on the DIUS website [Rec 24].

—  Sir David King, in his role as head of science and engineering professions, is preparing plans for the Government Chief Scientific Adviser to lead a campaign across Government to promote good practice and wider awareness of the value of scientific and engineering evidence in policy making across Whitehall. This initiative will capture many of the Select Committee's recommendations regarding the role and importance of scientists and engineers inside government and their relationship with the Government Chief Scientific Adviser. That campaign will:

—  Support the objectives of Professional Skills in Government (PSG) in close collaboration with other heads of analytical professions to gather examples of good practice across all disciplines in government and agree ways of taking that work forward.

—  Help build a fuller picture of the distribution and professional needs of the body of scientists and engineers in government.

—  The Government Office for Science will continue to promote good practice across areas of particular concern that have been identified by stakeholders. They will do this through workshops, guidance and advice as appropriate. Examples include workshops on scientific peer review, horizon scanning, engaging the scientific community and earlier work with the National School for Government in developing the scientific element of the "analysis and the use of evidence" core skill.

—  As the Committee will be aware, the recent Machinery of Government (MoG) changes led to the creation of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) and the Government Office for Science and this has been largely welcomed. In the Estimates Day Debate, the Science Minister explained: "[This] will provide a strong, integrated voice across Government for effective investment in research, science, innovation and skills, embedding them into the heart of the Government's competitiveness strategy ... Driving up the Government's management of scientific advice, risk and evidence remains at the heart of both the Government Chief Scientific Adviser's remit and Government policy making. The route from science to innovation and economic performance will not be lost. It needs to be strengthened and more focused at every stage. There are opportunities for us to do more in those areas. I anticipate strong working relationships not only with the other two new Departments—the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and the Department for Children, Schools and Families—but more widely across Government. That has to be done within an appropriate regulatory framework that safeguards the environment and health. In developing that framework, we must listen to the public's concerns. It is important to get that balance right".[6]

—  On cross-departmental working, a new Heads of Analysis group has been formed to tackle issues of common concern to all analysts and lead on more effective collaborative working across the analytical professions. It is to be chaired by Nick Macpherson, the Permanent Secretary at HM Treasury, who will act as a link between the Heads of Analysis and the Civil Service Steering Board. The Heads of Analysis are Sir David King; Dave Ramsden and Vicky Pryce; Tony O'Connor; Karen Dunnell and Paul Wiles. [Rec 40]

—  Areas of high policy profile continue to receive attention to ensure the appropriate use of scientific evidence in response. Examples where Government Office for Science is or has contributed alongside the formal policy responsibilities of departments include human pandemic influenza, climate change and more recently the re-emergence of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).

—  The position regarding a scientific adviser inside the Treasury remains unchanged. DIUS and Government Office for Science enjoy a very good relationship at all levels with the Treasury. "The key point to make is that successive science budget settlements in tight spending rounds have made clear the real value that the Treasury places on science and its importance in creating the knowledge and innovation economy for the future".[7]

—  Further to the Government Response (notably to Recommendation 11), the Chief Scientific Adviser's Committee met on 8 March 2007 to discuss—"Defining the Role of Departmental Chief Scientific Advisers". The Government Office for Science plans, by close of 2007, to revise the induction material for Chief Scientific Advisers (CSAs) to include a body of good practice to reinforce the importance of departmental CSAs and build the independent voice of the wider community of CSAs. The Chief Scientific Advisers also plan to participate in a special CSAC meeting on 29 November to look at successful behaviours and examples of the ways of working to underpin the effective use and management of science within departments.

—  The Consultation on Consultations, led by the Better Regulation Executive, concludes on 28 September and plans to report towards the end of November 2007.

—  Progress in public and media engagement was discussed during the Estimates Day debate [Col 1246-1247]. The Government's commitment remains to establish an Expert Resource Centre for Public Dialogue on Science and Innovation to help all parts of government enable public debate on science and technology-related topics. Ministers are currently considering the options for implementation of that commitment within the context of a wider strategy for science and society.

  7.  As the Science Minister concluded in the Estimates Day Debate: "When the Science and Technology Committee published its report `Scientific Advice, Risk and Evidence Based Policy Making' in November 2006, it included 69 recommendations. At the time, the Government welcomed its conclusions and recommendations, and that remains the case today. There is still more to be done. We are not complacent and we want to do more to ensure that science is managed and used to best effect by Government. We have made a great deal of progress over the past 10 years, and we have made further progress since the Committee published its report last year. We are determined to continue making progress. As a Government we remain firmly committed to continuing to improve our use of scientific advice, our management of risk and our use of evidence to support policy. I look forward to the continuing scrutiny of how we do that by hon. Members". [Col 1249]

September 2007

2   http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmhansrd/cm070709/debtext/70709-0012.htm Back

3   http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmhansrd/cm070709/debtext/70709-0012.htm, Col 1243. Back

4   http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmselect/cmpubadm/123/12305.htm#a6 Back

5   http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/6/F/csr_longterm271106.pdf Back

6   http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmhansrd/cm070709/debtext/70709-0012.htm, Cols 1244 and 1245. Back

7   http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmhansrd/cm070709/debtext/70709-0012.htm, Col 1245. Back