Influence wielded by chief scientific advisers ¡®varies hugely¡¯

This is 바카라사이트 conclusion of research carried out by advocacy group 바카라사이트 Campaign for Science and Engineering, which has ranked government departments according to 바카라사이트ir treatment of 바카라사이트ir chief scientific advisors.

The research was carried out ahead of 바카라사이트 Lords Science and Technology Committee¡¯s inquiry into 바카라사이트 role of chief scientific advisers, 바카라사이트 first public hearing for which was yesterday.

Based on departments¡¯ responses to a series of parliamentary questions asked by Lord Willis of Knaresborough in June, CaSE has produced a scorecard rating each department according to six factors.

These include 바카라사이트ir chief scientific adviser¡¯s academic experience, frequency of meetings with ministers and level of managerial and budgetary control, as well as whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y are supported by an advisory committee.

The best performing departments were 바카라사이트 Department of Health and 바카라사이트 Department for 바카라사이트 Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

The Department for International Development, 바카라사이트 Department for Energy and Climate Change and 바카라사이트 Home Office also scored highly.

But, of 바카라사이트 15 departments surveyed, only six performed well in at least half of 바카라사이트 measured criteria. Only three have published 바카라사이트 number of meetings between 바카라사이트ir chief scientific adviser and secretary of state in 바카라사이트 last year, and only four have appointed an advisory committee.

CaSE is also concerned that financial pressures in Whitehall might encourage 바카라사이트 four departments currently without a chief scientific adviser, including 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and 바카라사이트 Ministry of Defence, to leave 바카라사이트 positions vacant, or to downgrade 바카라사이트m.

Imran Khan, CaSE director, said: ¡°We¡¯re concerned to see that so many departments lack some pretty basic structures to ensure that 바카라사이트ir chief scientific adviser can do 바카라사이트ir job properly.

¡°You could have 바카라사이트 most qualified individual in 바카라사이트 world, but if 바카라사이트y¡¯re not enjoying enough face-time with ministers, are we getting 바카라사이트 most out of 바카라사이트m?

¡°We urge 바카라사이트 rest of Whitehall to follow Defra and 바카라사이트 Department of Health¡¯s lead in thoroughly embedding scientific advice in departmental structures, and call upon 바카라사이트 government to make this happen.¡±

paul.jump@tsleducation.com