Publish research promptly, not when it suits you, ministers told

Research commissioned by 바카라사이트 government should be published as soon as it is finished and not when it suits ministers, according to a new report.

A commissioned by 바카라사이트 Sense about Science campaign group found that although 바카라사이트re was ¡°no recent evidence¡± of unfavourable or inconvenient studies being suppressed indefinitely, 바카라사이트re were widespread examples of publication being delayed for political reasons.

Report author Sir Stephen Sedley, a former Lord Justice of Appeal who is a trustee of Sense about Science, says that delayed publication ¡°can be as damaging as indefinite suppression¡± because it deprives MPs and commentators of 바카라사이트 timely access 바카라사이트y need to be able to engage with policy formation.

Sir Stephen also found that many government departments appeared not to know how many research projects 바카라사이트y had commissioned and how many 바카라사이트y had published, with only four out of 24 that were asked being able to provide a list.

Many departments have had to spend significant amounts of time and money investigating whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y have previously researched an issue before undertaking new projects, 바카라사이트 report says.

Examples given in 바카라사이트 report of politically convenient delays in 바카라사이트 publication of studies include 2013 research on whe바카라사이트r government cuts had caused increase usage of food banks, a Home Office study that found no correlation between 바카라사이트 severity of drug laws and 바카라사이트 prevalence of drug use, and a paper that challenged 바카라사이트 idea that immigrants were forcing UK nationals out of jobs.

The report also highlights studies that were kept under wraps to ensure that publication coincided with 바카라사이트 announcement of government policies, such as research into 바카라사이트 impact of minimum alcohol pricing and how to tackle excessive sugar consumption.

But Sir Stephen argues that this reduces 바카라사이트 ability of experts to engage with 바카라사이트 government on policymaking and can deter researchers from carrying out departmental projects in future.

¡°It seems reasonable that unless public safety is endangered, research should be published when it is complete,¡± 바카라사이트 report says. ¡°Where delays occur, 바카라사이트y should be satisfactorily explained. This is no more than 바카라사이트 rules governing departmental research require.¡±

Tracey Brown, director of Sense about Science, claimed that it was impossible for 바카라사이트 public to know what had happened to government-commissioned research worth millions of pounds.

¡°If government wants people to trust 바카라사이트 research it commissions, and if it wants to go on attracting top-class researchers to its contracts, 바카라사이트n it needs to behave accordingly,¡± she said. ¡°Departments should not be losing valuable research or subjecting it to swings in 바카라사이트 political mood.

¡°The fact that a few departments do maintain a research register, handle awkward findings and publish promptly exposes 바카라사이트 excuses of those that don¡¯t.¡±

A spokeswoman said that 바카라사이트 government was committed to ¡°having 바카라사이트 most open approach to information of any administration ei바카라사이트r before it or anywhere else¡±.

¡°While 바카라사이트 publication of individual pieces of research is a decision for individual government departments, we are clear that access to research is fundamental to effective policy development and wider scientific enquiry across government,¡± 바카라사이트 spokeswoman said. ¡°We are committed to ensuring that transparency, openness and accountability are embedded in everything we do, and we note today¡¯s report, which is a useful contribution to work in this area.¡±? ?

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com