Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee - Eighth Report
Putting Science and Engineering at the Heart of Government Policy

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Here you can browse the report which was ordered by the House of Commons to be printed 8 July 2009.

CONTENTS

Terms of Reference

REPORT

SUMMARY

1  INTRODUCTION

Background

The inquiry

Structure of the report

2  SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING AT THE HEART OF GOVERNMENT POLICY?

Background
The machinery of Government

Why science and engineering are important

Previous recommendations

Chief Engineering Advisers

GO-Science in the heart of Government

Policy examples

The licensing of homeopathy by the MHRA

Literacy and numeracy interventions

Science Advisory Councils/Committees

Departmental Science Advisory Councils

ACMD and the Home Office

The Code of Practice for Scientific Advisory Committees

Independence

Membership

Transparency

Communication with the media

Conclusion

3  DEBATING STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

Background
What is the debate about?

Picking winners?

International partnerships

Directed and non-directed research

Consultation

Formal consultation: Science and Society

Informal consultation: strategic science funding

Conclusion

4  THE HALDANE PRINCIPLE

History of the Haldane Principle

The Haldane Principle today

Researchers are best placed to determine detailed priorities

Government's role is to set the over-arching strategy

Research Councils are 'guardians of the independence of science'

Science Budget Allocation letters

Regional science policy

A multitude of funding relationships

4  THE HALDANE PRINCIPLE (continued)

4  THE HALDANE PRINCIPLE (continued)

Mission driven research

A new research funding principle

5  SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING SCRUTINY

Introduction

Internal scrutiny

External scrutiny

A brief history of science scrutiny in the House of Commons

The future Science and Technology Committee

6  CONCLUSIONS

Conclusions and recommendations
Science and engineering at the heart of Government policy?
Previous recommendations and policy examples

Science Advisory Councils/Committees

Conclusion

Debating strategic priorities

The Haldane Principle

Science and engineering scrutiny

Conclusions

APPENDIX: CORRESPONDENCE REGARDING THE SCIENCE BUDGET ALLOCATIONS LETTERS

FORMAL MINUTES

WITNESSES

LIST OF WRITTEN EVIDENCE

LIST OF REPORTS FROM THE COMMITTEE DURING THE CURRENT PARLIAMENT




MINUTES OF EVIDENCE - VOLUME II (HC 168-II)

Monday 26 January 2009
Wednesday 25 February 2009
Monday 16 March 2009
Wednesday 1 April 2009
Monday 18 May 2009

WRITTEN EVIDENCE - VOLUME II (HC 168-II)

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Prepared 23 July 2009