Dr. Michael Elves introduces the workshop with a general overview of parliament and government work in the UK

1. AN INTRODUCTIONTOAN INTRODUCTIONTO
SCIENCE POLICYSCIENCE POLICY
Newton’s AppleNewton’s Apple
www.newtons-apple.org.ukwww.newtons-apple.org.uk
Science Policy WorkshopScience Policy Workshop
University of Reading 2016University of Reading 2016

2. Today we aim to show
 that your research and experience can
have a policy impact
 how the UK science/policy interface
operates
 What politicians and civil servants do on
science related issues
 how you can get involved in shaping
science policy and scientific evidence-
based policy

3. Some Science policy issues
 The budget and priorities for Government
spending on science
 How science and technology priorities are
decided
 Organisation of Research Councils
 Regulation of scientific research
 Use of Scientific evidence for departmental
policies
 Advisory committees in Departments

4. Science Policy
– about science itself
 Health and Safety regulations
 Regulations on use of Radioactive isotopes and radiation
 Human Tissues Act 2008
- working with human tissues
 Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008
- working with human gametes and embryos
 Legislation regulating experiments with animals
 [EU regulations – pesticides; chemicals]
Some policies that affect the way that scientists workSome policies that affect the way that scientists work

5. Some policies which need scientific
input - 1
 Energy generation – nuclear,renewable,fracking
 Technical standards for traded goods
 Human reproductive techniques
 Public health
 Tuberculosis in Cattle and role of Badgers
 Sustainable food production
 International development projects
 Transport developments and safety

6. Some policies which need scientific
input- 2
 Pollution and Air Quality
 Noise pollution and control
 Spending on space – satellites for earth
observation etc
 Cyber crime
 International climate change decisions
 Water management, nationally and internationally
 Building regulations
 Land use and management

7. Giving Effect to Policy – the Roles
 Parliament
Gives effect to Policy
through legislation
 Government
Devises and develops Policy

8. Government Structure
Secretaries of State
Ministers
Parliamentary Under
Secretaries
Civil servants – including Chief Scientists
Elected MPs or appointed
Peers
from political party
in office
Impartial
Prime Minister

9. Some Government Departments
using Science-based Evidence
• Department for Business, Innovation and
Skills
• Department of Health
• Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
• Home Office
• International Development
• Department for Transport

10. Sources of S&T input to Government
 Government Chief Scientific Adviser (GCSA)
and Chief Scientists within Departments
 Government Executive Agencies
 Part of a Government Department
- eg UK Space Agency, Defence Science and Technology
Laboratory, Criminal Records Bureau, Public Health England
 Task forces, advisory groups / reviews
 Short-term, created to give expert advice
on specific issues

11.  Executive and Advisory Non-Departmental
Public Bodies (NDPBs) (or Quasi Autonomous
non-governmental bodies (Quangos))
 Not part of Government
 Appointed by Parliament
 Long-term remit
e.g. Environment Agency, English Nature,
Human Tissue Authority, NHS England,
National Measurement and Regulation Office
Sources of S&T input to Government

12. Sources of S&T input to Government
Non-Ministerial Departments (NMDs)
 Deliver particular Government functions
 Arms length from Government and report to
Parliament
 Long-term remit
e.g. Food Standards, UK Statistics Agency,
HMRC, UK Trade and Investment

13. 700+ NDPBs and NMDs now reduced 330
 106 abolished so far – includes the RDAs
 150 merged into 70
 Roles of others taken over by other Governmental
bodies
 Some privatised
 Process is continuing
Sorces of S&T input to Government

14. Other Scientific Organisations influencing
policy…
• National Academies
• Pressure groups, think tanks etc
• Chartered Institutes, Learned Societies,
Trade Associations, Professional Federations

15. Department of Business,
Innovation and Skills
 The Science Budget and funding the Research Councils
 Sponsoring and funding HEFCE to give students the skills
needed to compete in a global employment market - ensuring UK
workforce has necessary skills
 Policy on innovation - supporting UK’s science and
research based industry
 Ensuring that consumer law is fair for both consumers
and businesses
Responsible for:
 Supporting British businesses to increase productivity and
compete anywhere in the world
 Better regulation - cutting the amount of regulation and making
it easy to understand

16. Government Office for Science
 Ensures Government Policy is underpinned
by robust scientific evidence.
 Reviews Government funded science,
works across all Departments.
 Headed up by the Government
Chief Scientific Adviser (GCSA)

17. Government Office for Science
Responsible for:
 Giving scientific advice to the Prime Minister and Cabinet Members
 Ensuring and improving the quality and use of scientific
evidence and advice in government – by creating and supporting
connections between officials and the STEM community.
 Providing the best scientific advice in the case of emergencies,
through the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE)
 Helping the independent Council for Science and
Technology (CST) provide high level advice to the Prime
Minister

18. The Council for Science and
Technology
 Senior figures in Science, Engineering and
Technology from academia and industry.
 Independent advisory body

Advises Prime Minister and Cabinet

Responds to Government requests for information
and advice

Can also set its own agenda

Holds inquiries; gets research done; produces
reports

Publishes its deliberations on its website

19. Input on scientific issues to
influence policy
 Special advisers (political appointments)
 Established scientific groups – e.g climate
change panel
 Royal Society etc Learned Societies
 Parliamentary Select Committees
 Research groups in universities
 Companies
 lobbyists
 you

20. Parliament
827 Peers
Life or hereditary (92) and
26 C of E Bishops
650 Members of Parliament
Elected Appointed

21. Party Manifesto
discussions
Drafting
the Bill
Government
Royal
Commissions
Select Committee
Reports
Select Committee
Pre-Legislative
Scrutiny
Opportunities to engage with Policy
The formulation stage
= points where input
into policy can be made
Green
Paper
White
Paper
Departmental
consultations
Public
Consultation

22. Parliament
Private
Members Bill Publication
House of Commons
First
Reading
Second
Reading
Committee
Stage
Third
Reading
Report
Stage
D
E
B
A
T
E
S
Early Day
Motions
Select
Committee
Reports
House of Lords
Third
Reading
First
Reading
Second
Reading
Committee
Stage
Report
Stage
Royal
Assent
Act
of
Parliament
Opportunities to engage with Policy
The Parliamentary stages in Law making
= points where input
into policy can be made

23. Influencing Science policy in ParliamentInfluencing Science policy in Parliament
- Groups established to address specialist
interests
- All Party Parliamentary Groups
- Parliamentary Office for Science and
Technology (non-partisan) (POST)
- Parliamentary and Scientific Committee:-
MPs, Peers, Industrialists, Academics and
Individual members
- S&T Select Committees in the House of
Commons and the House of Lords
- Individual MPs and Lords

24. Engaging with policy
 Be aware of how your own research has a
context in local, regional and national
policy
 Work with your local MP - Early day motions.
Private Members Bills, etc
 Become involved in the policy work of
your learned society or trade association
by providing information and views on
issues
 Provide input into reports, consultations
and calls for evidence

25. Engaging with policy
 Does it work? Can the scientist be influential
on policy and law making?
 But -
Parliament and Government must
balance views from different directions
and with different agendas in
formulating policy
 Some examples of a positive effect
Light Pollution and effect on Astronomy –
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008
Protection for researchers using animals
Growing acceptance of GM
Saving MRI from damaging regulations

26. Engaging with policy
 But sometimes “politics” can get in the way of
“Policy”
– despite the scientific evidence
 Example -
Improving Air Quality vs the Diesel Lobby

28. Government Office for Science
 Risk
 Innovation
 Trade &
Finance
Structure
Energy
 Energy
 Climate &
Change
Life Course
 Cities
 Life Course
 Cities DD
 Data &
Analytics
Resilience
Infrastructure
Support for Sage
Profession
Leadership &
support
Science Capability
CST Secretariat
Foresight
Projects
Horizon Scanning
Project
Development
Office