Annex C
LIST OF CHIEF SCIENTISTS AND EQUIVALENTS
INCLUDING THEIR TERMS OF REFERENCE (WHERE AVAILABLE)
GOVERNMENT'S
CHIEF SCIENTIFIC
ADVISER (CSA)
Sir Robert May
The CSA is responsible for advising the Prime
Minister, Cabinet and President of the Board of Trade on science
issues. The CSA attends the Ministerial Committee on Economic
Affairs and other relevant such committees and as Head of the
Office of Science and Technology is responsible for carrying forward
transdepartmental activities.
The CSA is concerned to influence positively
the economic contribution from Government spending in science
and technology. He sits on the principal interdepartmental committees
which deal with the scientific and technological issues that come
before Government. He also has a general responsibility for co-ordination
of international scientific and technological relationships, and
is the Government's scientific representative on many international
occasions.
[In 1990, the then Prime Minister endorsed
guidance drawn up by then Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir John Fairclough
which focus on the role of the Departmental Chief Scientists'
organisations (or equivalents). These are reproduced here.]
THE "FAIRCLOUGH
GUIDELINES"
Criteria For Judging The Adequacy Of Arrangements
For Providing Scientific Advice
1. Normally Departments should have a uniquely
identified senior scientist or engineer, whether designated "Chief
Scientist" or otherwise, who should:
(i) hold the highest possible professional
credentials;
(ii) have access to Ministers and the Permanent
Secretary; and
(iii) be an integral part of the top management
of the Department;
in order to:
(a) act as a focus for the entire canvas
of the Department's requirements for S&T advice and services,
and to take a strategic view of the content and balance of R&D
programmes to meet those needs;
(b) ensure effective strategic research needed
to support the Department's future policy, including advice to
the Research Councils and the Advisory Board to the Research Councils,
and normally to hold, or have discretion over, a budget to fund
strategic research; and
(c) exercise an oversight of the "intelligent
customer for R&D and S&T services" role of policy
divisions in order to maintain the quality and the consistency
with which that function is performed; and to input specialist
advice as appropriate.
Where the level of R&D requirements and/or
the size of the Department does not justify the full implementation
of the above, particularly the appointment of a senior "Chief
Scientist", alternative mechanisms should be in place to
achieve the same ends.
2. Departments should have independent advice
of the highest calibre (whether provided by eminent individuals,
advisory committees, or consultants) in order to complement internal
advice, to act as a check and balance to internally generated
views, and to introduce a wider perspective into the consideration
of issues. Where the Chief Scientist is drawn for the career civil
service, this is particularly important.
3. Departments should have in place R&D
programme and project appraisal, review and evaluation procedures.
4. Departments should have recruitment,
secondment, placement and training policies that underpin the
"informed customer" role of policy Divisions, that enhance
their scientific and technical competence, and that promote the
fuller integration of S&T advice into broader policy formulation
processes.
5. In reviewing periodically the arrangements
in place, Departments should have regard to changes in policy
and the type of scientific issues under consideration. Emphasis
should be placed on identifying and as far as possible anticipating
future trends, and examining the appropriateness of existing structure,
terms of reference etc in the light of current and likely future
needs.
MINISTRY OF
AGRICULTURE FISHERIES
AND FOODCHIEF
SCIENTIST
Dr David Shannon
The role and responsibilities of the MAFF Chief
Scientist are governed by the "Fairclough Guidelines".
These require the post holder to:
(a) act as a focus for the entire canvas
of the Department's requirements for S&T advice and services,
and to take a strategic view of the content and balance of R&D
programmes to meet those needs;
(b) ensure effective strategic research needed
to support the Department's future policy, including advice to
the Research Councils and the Advisory Board to the Research Councils,
and normally to hold, or have discretion over, a budget to fund
strategic research;
(c) exercise an oversight of the "intelligent
customer for R&D and S&T services" role of policy
divisions in order to maintain the quality and the consistency
with which that function is performed; and to input specialist
advice as appropriate.
MINISTRY OF
DEFENCECHIEF
SCIENTIFIC ADVISER
(CSA)
Professor Sir David Davies
The CSA's role is to provide scientific analysis
and advice at the highest level within MoD across the whole range
of defence programmes, including R&D and equipment procurement.
The role also includes initiating and leading the debate of new
defence technology issues of the future and overseeing the central
scientific staff. Reporting to the Permanent Under Secretary (PUS),
the CSA is responsible for briefing Ministers, Chiefs of Staffs
and PUS in connection with these roles. The tradition of filling
the post from outside the MoD emphasises the need to retain a
broad external perspective on all scientific issues that can affect
defence.
Specific responsibilities include:
(a) Chairman of the Equipment Approvals Committee
(the formal process for evaluating and approving defence equipment
procurement). CSA is also responsible for providing independent
scientific audit of the procurement programme.
(b) Chairman of the Defence Committee which
approves the research programme and ensures a correct programme
balance including international collaboration.
(c) The UK principal for the 1958 UK/US Agreement
on nuclear weapons and nuclear propulsion (including sponsorship
of the associated research programme) and for a similar UK/US
agreement on Ballistic Missile Defence.
(d) Overseeing the Central Scientific Staff
High Level Budget
CSA is a member of the Defence Council, the
Financial Planning and Management Group, the Defence Evaluation
and Research Agency Council, and is Chairman of the DERA Board.
CSA is also a member of the Meteorological Office Board, the Council
for the Royal Military College of Science and the Defence Scientific
Advisory Council. The current postholder also holds a number of
external scientific appointments and is currently President of
the Royal Academy of Engineering.
DEPARTMENT FOR
EDUCATION AND
EMPLOYMENTDIRECTOR,
HIGHER EDUCATION
Mr Tony Clark
DEPARTMENT OF
THE ENVIRONMENT,
TRANSPORT AND
THE REGIONSCHIEF
SCIENTIST
Dr David Fisk
The Chief Scientist reports to the Permanent
Secretary and the DETR Board on issues of science and technology
policy, and the systems of procuring, interpreting and applying
research by the Department and its associated bodies. The Chief
Scientist also represents the Department on external fora relating
to its broad science and technology interests including the Research
Councils.
FOREIGN AND
COMMONWEALTH OFFICEHEAD,
ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE
AND ENERGY
DEPARTMENT
Mr John Ashton
DEPARTMENT
OF HEALTHDIRECTOR
OF RESEARCH
AND DEVELOPMENT
Professor John Swales
The Director of Research and Development (DRD)
was appointed in 1991 following the 1988 House of Lords Select
Committee on Science and Technology's report on "Priorities
in Medical Research". The DRD is responsible for advising
the Secretary of State for Health across the range of his responsibilities
and interests in research including:
— research and development in and for
the National Health Service;
— the Department's Policy Research
Programme;
— the health research of the non-departmental
public bodies;
— the Concordat between the health
departments and the Medical Research Council;
— the relationships with other research
councils, the medical charities and industry; and
— the interface with the health-related
R&D of other government departments, and the European Community.
The DRD is responsible for R&D Expenditure
of about £450 million a year, £425 million of which
is for the NHS R&D Levy.
HEALTH AND
SAFETY EXECUTIVEDIRECTOR,
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
AND CHIEF
SCIENTIST
Dr Jim McQuaid
As a member of the HSE Board he ensures that
policy proposals incorporate the best available scientific advice.
He reports to HSE's Director General as Chief Scientist and to
the Deputy Director General as Director of S&T. These reporting
arrangements ensure that S&T is centre stage in the conduct
of HSE's policy and operational business, in line with HSE's mission
statement and Government policy.
DEPARTMENT FOR
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENTCHIEF
NATURAL RESOURCES
ADVISER
Mr Andrew Bennett
[See Annex F for further discussion of the
handling of S&T in DfID]
DEPARTMENT OF
TRADE AND
INDUSTRYDIRECTOR,
TECHNOLOGY AND
STANDARDS & DE
FACTO CHIEF
SCIENTIST & ENGINEER
FOR DTI
Mr Robert Foster
Technology and Standards Directorate's overall
aim is to provide a coherent policy framework for DTI's activities
in innovation and industrial technology, to manage the Innovation
Budget and to support the standards infrastructure.
Mr Foster is the DTI representative at EASO
meetings.
NORTHERN IRELAND
CIVIL SERVICE
Department for Economic Development (DED)
CHIEF ENGINEER
AND SCIENTIST
Mr Greg McConnell
The Chief Scientist advises Ministers on the
formulation of innovation policy. His role is to maximise, promote
and influence the roles that innovation, industrial R&D and
technology play in improving the competitiveness of NI industry.
He also acts as a link between UK Government and Northern Ireland
to ensure consistency between national and regional policy.
Department of Agriculture Northern Ireland (DANI)
CHIEF SCIENTIFIC
OFFICER
Dr Cecil McMurray
The CSO provides expert scientific advice to
the Permanent Secretary and the Minister on aspects relating to
science and technology with respect to Departmental policies and
programmes. His role includes managing research, analytical and
diagnostic programmes and the delivery of tertiary education in
agriculture and food science. The CSO also contributes to the
management of the Department as a member of the Top Management
Group.
THE SCOTTISH
OFFICEHEAD
OF FURTHER
AND HIGHER
EDUCATION TRAINING
& SCIENCES
Mr Ed Weeple
WELSH OFFICEDIRECTOR
BUSINESS SERVICE
DIVISION
Dr Ron Loveland
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