Departmental science spending and UK nuclear capabilities
24 May 2011
Professor Sir John Beddington, the Government's Chief Scientific Adviser (GCSA) will appear before the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee on Tuesday 24 May. He will be questioned about setting departmental science budgets and the appointments of chief scientific advisers.
- Watch the meeting: Nuclear Research and Development Capabilities
- Inquiry: Nuclear Research and Development Capabilities
- Science and Technology Committee (Lords)
Witnesses
At 10.40am, Tuesday 24 May, Committee Room 4, Palace of Westminster
- Professor Sir John Beddington, Government Chief Scientific Adviser
At 11.20am (timings are approximate)
- Professor David MacKay Chief Scientific Adviser, Department for Energy and Climate Change
The Committee are likely to ask Sir John questions such as:
- What is known about government departmental research and development plans following the Comprehensive Spending Review and where have the most significant cuts occurred?
- What is the role of Departmental Chief Scientific Advisers in ensuring evidence-based policy and how well are they doing their job?
- What cross-departmental areas are the Chief Scientific Advisers' Committee focusing on at present?
He will then be joined by Professor David MacKay, Chief Scientific Adviser at the Department for Energy and Climate Change, and they will be quizzed on the UK nuclear research and development capabilities.
They are likely to face questions about:
- How the Government will ensure that future options for nuclear can be kept open
- Who should be responsible for the oversight or coordination of nuclear research and development in the UK
- What we can learn from other countries nuclear energy research and development activities