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S E P T E M BE R 2 0 1 1

Role and function of departmental Chief Scientific Advisers:

a response to the House of Lords Select Committees call for evidence

Summary
Modern governments require scientific advice in order to be
in a position to respond to the fast moving pace of scientific knowledge knowledge that cannot routinely be found within traditional governmental structures. 3 The submission will seek to respond to the key aspects that the Select Committee is looking at, but will also introduce some issues related to the devolved Scottish Government and European Union. In considering the role and function of CSAs there are certain key principles that need to be agreed between Government and the CSAs.These include: the reasons why government needs scientific advice; a recognition that tensions can exist between scientific knowledge and public values; and acceptance from government that the independence of the advice provided by the CSA is central to the credibility and value of the advice. Government needs independent scientific advice as it needs access to a wider knowledge base than that which is available through career civil servants.Whilst the civil service will have scientists employed in a range of positions, those scientists with knowledge of the key advances in recent decades will be found in the academic or business sectors predominantly. The advances in many technologies has been so rapid in recent decades that it is essential for government to access advice from individuals with direct knowledge or with networks of contacts who can provide that knowledge. In a democratic society it is inevitable that there will be occasions where the possibilities of the application of a new scientific breakthrough run counter to the values of society. CSAs have a role to play here in informing government of the opportunities and risks of accepting advice, whilst also performing a role in enhancing the public understanding of science. Ultimately though it has to be accepted that there will be occasions that due to societal pressures that elected governments will choose not to accept the advice of CSAs. It is therefore all the more important that the independence of the CSAs is embedded in the relationship. In order as to recruit people of the highest calibre for these posts and for their credibility within their peer groups to be maintained their advice has to be delivered based on the current scientific evidence and knowledge, even when this may be uncomfortable for the government.

Principles
4

The independence of the adviser is paramount to maintain

credibility within the scientific community and the public.

Chief Scientific Advisers (CSAs) should have a role in

advising and liaising with the Research Councils and others with research budgets, but should not direct their spend. CSAs should, though, have the resource to commission research where gaps are identified in the evidence base to inform policy.

Normally, where significant advice is given this should be

published along with the evidence base and the response from government should also be made public, whether accepting the advice or not.

Across government there should be a spread of advisers that

adequately represents the disciplinary knowledge base that government requires to make informed decisions.

CSAs, when considered for appointment, should be able to

demonstrate that they have access to a network of peers in the scientific and engineering community whose expertise they can draw upon.

Introduction
1 The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE), Scotlands National Academy welcomes the initiative of the House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology in investigating the role and function of departmental Chief Scientific Advisers (CSAs). The RSE is in a strong position to comment on these issues as within its Fellowship it has many experts who have contributed to scientific advice to Government at Scottish, UK and European levels, as CSAs, members of the Scottish Science Advisory Council (SSAC) and as members of the Council for Science and Technology (CST).The RSE brought together a short-life working group of individuals with relevant knowledge and experience to prepare this response. It should be taken as read that where reference is made to scientific advice this encompasses all engineering and technology disciplines.

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Effectiveness
8 The function of a CSA needs to be both proactive and reactive. Of course there will be many issues that require advice which respond to events at home and abroad, with examples in recent years including: Foot & Mouth disease; the H1N1 flu virus; and the implications of the Fukushima nuclear emergency following the earthquake and tsunami. In addition though an effective CSA should also be providing horizon scanning for government, keeping in touch with emerging knowledge in order to provide government to be in a position to nurture emerging technologies, harnessing the opportunity to contribute to societal or economic benefit.

Devolution
14 Since the establishment of the Scottish Parliament in 1999 and the devolved assemblies in Wales and Northern Ireland there is an additional dimension to scientific advice to government, in that different administrations may adopt a different policy position from each other, sometimes based on the same body of scientific advice.The divergent positions of the Scottish and UK Governments on energy policy being a case in point. 15 In Scotland the position of a Chief Scientific Adviser to the Scottish Government has been established and there are also positions of Chief Scientists in several departments, although not comprehensively across all departments. The current CSA is due to come to the end of her appointment later this year, while vacancies currently exist for two other posts. The RSE believes that it is essential that these posts are advertised and filled at the earliest opportunity as without this there will be a gap in the scientific advice being provided to the Scottish Government. 16 The Scottish Science Advisory Council has also been established, however as this operates out with the government machinery the level of access to ministers and opportunity to influence policy is not as strong as exists with the more comprehensive system of CSAs in Whitehall.The RSE produces a series of Advice Papers from its multi-disciplinary Fellowship and a closer relationship between the SSAC and RSE could help maximise the value of these papers in influencing policy. 17 The CSA to the Scottish Government attends the departmental CSA meetings organised on a UK basis, however given that many issues of scientific advice will involve cross border issues, even where the policy responsibility is devolved, e.g. human and animal health issues, it is important that there is effective co-operation between the governments on such policies.This makes it all the more important that a full cohort of advisers is maintained in position in the key departments in Scotland.

10 In recognising the tensions that can exist between scientific advice and the pressures from society (often fuelled by the media) an effective CSA needs to deal with these sensitively. To give confidence within and without government ideally advice should normally be published, as should the response from government.This helps to ensure that the access to political power is used responsibly, whilst also maintaining the credibility of the adviser in the scientific community. Whilst publishing advice may lead to interest from the media, a CSA should seek not to develop too high a media profile as this can often reduce the likelihood that government will be receptive to the advice. 11 No CSA can be an expert in every aspect of science and this is why it is important that people appointed to the roles have a network of contacts that can be drawn upon to provide accurate and well informed advice in areas where the CSA requires this. 12 Direct access to the most senior ministers is essential to enable a CSA to perform his or her job effectively. In the case of the Chief Scientific Adviser to the UK or Scottish Government, this should include direct access to the Prime Minister or First Minister. In this case of the departmental advisers this link should be to the relevant cabinet rank minister.

Influencing Research Spending

13 It is appropriate that from time to time a CSA identifies strategic scientific requirements within their area of concern and particularly identifies gaps in research that is needed to support Government policy. The Research Councils should be able to access this advice but their primary role is to support quality. If appropriate research is not emerging through established Research Council routes then CSAs should have the resource and the ability to commission such research from an appropriate body.

European Union
18 As well as recognising that many issues are of a cross border nature within the UK it is of course also the case that many issues require involvement on an international basis.The most immediate area of focus beyond our own shores being the European Union. An example where EU wide action was recently of importance was the spread of blue-tongue disease an animal disease that until recently had been regarded as a tropical or exotic condition.The RSE submitted advice to the European Commission on blue tongue, much of which was taken on board.

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19 With the increased globalised movement of people and goods, along with a changing climate it is likely to be increasing the case that we will need to respond to such challenges on an international basis.The current system of scientific advice to the European Union is not as advanced as we would wish it to be and it may be an issue that the Select Committee may wish to recommend that the UK Government and Chief Scientific Adviser pursue further.

Additional Information and References

Advice papers are produced on behalf of RSE Council by an appropriately diverse working group in whose expertise and judgement the Council has confidence.This Advice Paper has been signed off by the General Secretary.

For further information please contact Bristow Muldoon, Head of Policy Advice, Royal Society of Edinburgh, 22 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 2PQ or bmuldoon@royalsoced.org.uk. Responses are published on the RSE website (www.royalsoced.org.uk).
Advice Paper (Royal Society of Edinburgh) ISSN 2040-2694

The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) is Scotlands National Academy. It is an independent body with a multidisciplinary fellowship of men and women of international standing which makes it uniquely placed to offer informed, independent comment on matters of national interest. The Royal Society of Edinburgh, Scotland's National Academy, is Scottish Charity No. SC000470