Government Chief Scientific Adviser to be questioned by Lords
The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee will hold a one-off evidence with the Government's Chief Scientific Adviser on Tuesday 19 June.
Dr Patrick Vallance started in the role of Government Chief Scientific Adviser (GCSA) on 4 April 2018. The GCSA has responsibility for providing scientific advice to the Prime Minister and cabinet; advising the Government on aspects of policy on science and technology; and ensuring and improving the quality and use of scientific evidence and advice in government.
The Committee will ask him what his priorities are as Government Chief Scientific Adviser.
The evidence session will begin at 3.25pm in Committee Room 4A of the House of Lords. Other questions the Committee are likely to ask include:
- What assessment has been made of the ability of Government Departments to absorb scientific advice and do any parts of Government stand out as exemplars or role models?
- Brexit is going to bring an unprecedented volume of regulatory and legislative reform. Is the CSA network equipped to identify the scientific dimension of these reforms and provide advice on the scale that will be required?
- The previous Chief Scientific Adviser took a close interest in science funding and the development of UKRI. What is the desired relationship with UKRI and with research funding generally?
- What role will the GCSA have in Brexit negotiations and in agreeing the UK's future participation in EU research programmes, Euratom and EU regulation of scientific activities?
