CONTENTS
Terms of Reference
Summary
Chapter 1: Introduction
Purpose and scope of the inquiry
Methodology
Structure of the report
Acknowledgements
Departmental abbreviations
Chapter 2: Functions and Recruitment of Chief Scientific Advisers
The context of scientific advice to government
Government Chief Scientific Adviser
Government Office for Science
Chief Scientific Advisers Committee
Heads of Analysis
BIS Director General, Knowledge and Innovation
Scientific Advisory Committees
Scientific Advisory Councils
Guidelines
Council for Science and Technology
Core functions of departmental CSAs
Box 1: Examples of CSA impact on policy development
Variation in departmental arrangements for CSAs
Table 1: Summary of Ministerial departments' arrangements for CSAs
Qualities and skills necessary for CSAs to be effective
Standing within the scientific community
Communication and management skills
Public engagement
Understanding the policy environment and risk assessment of policy
Project delivery
Recruitment of CSAs
Source of candidates: internal or external?
Advantages of internal appointment
Advantages of external appointment
Terms and conditions
Part-time or full-time?
Length of appointment
Table 2: CSA tenure
Recruitment practice
Chapter 3: Engagement with the policy process and departmental evidence quality assurance
Engagement with the policy process
Box 2: Examples of obstacles to CSAs influencing policy
Early consultation
Figure 1: The Policy Cycle
Involvement throughout the policy process
Access to ministers
Table 3: Frequency of CSA scheduled meetings with ministers
Disagreement with policy decisions
Grading
Table 4: Grades and Salaries of CSAs
Departmental Board membership
Internal quality assurance of evidence
Chapter 4: Support and resources for CSAS
Resources required by CSAs
Consultation of CSAs regarding departmental research spend
Table 5: CSA control of budgets
Staff to support CSAs
Table 6: Staff supporting CSAs
Effective networks within the scientific community and industry
Work of CSAC
Range of expertise across CSAC
Social sciences
Challenge from external advisory bodies
Table 7: Departmental Scientific Advisory Bodies
Departmental performance
Reporting lines and oversight
Personal performance assessment
Table 8: CSA reporting lines
Annual assessments of CSAs by the GCSA
Chapter 5: Conclusions and Recommendations
Functions and recruitment of Chief Scientific Advisers
Cross departmental variation in management of science
Essential personal characteristics of CSAs
Importance of external recruitment
Terms and conditions
Recruitment panel
Engagement with the policy process and departmental evidence quality assurance
Engagement with the policy process
Access to ministers
Guidelines in the event of disagreement
Grading
Membership of departmental Boards
Support and resources for CSAs
Staffing
Links with academies and industry
CSAC and cross-departmental collaboration
Engineering
Chief Social Science Adviser
Scientific advisory bodies
Departmental Performance
Annual performance assessment by the GCSA
Appendix 1: Members and Declaration of Interests
Appendix 2: List of Witnesses
Appendix 3: Call for Evidence
Appendix 4: Questions for Written Answer
Appendix 5: Recommendations made regarding CSAS in recent House of Lords Science and Technology Committee reports
Appendix 6: Abbreviations and Acronyms
Appendix 7: Recent Reports from the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee
NOTE:
References in footnotes to the Report are as follows:
Q refers to a question in oral evidence;
Witness names without a question reference refer
to written evidence.
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