Sir Gus O’Donnell and Government Ministers questioned by Lords
23 November 2011
Sir Gus O’Donnell will give evidence to the Lords Science and Technology Committee when he appears before them on Wednesday 23 November as part of their inquiry into the role of the Government’s Chief Scientific Advisers.
- Parliament TV: The Role of Chief Scientific Advisers
- Inquiry: Chief Scientific Advisers
- Science and Technology Committee (Lords)
Witnesses
At 9.40am, Wednesday 23 November, Committee Room 2, Palace of Westminster
- Sir Gus O’Donnell, Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Home Civil Service
At 10.35am
- David Willetts MP, Universities and Science Minister at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS)
- Earl Howe, Minister and Spokesperson for Health at the Department of Health (DH)
- Lord Taylor of Holbeach, Minister at the Department for the Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs (Defra)
- Nick Gibb MP, Schools Minister at the Department for Education (DfE)
The Committee is expected to explore issues such as:
- the role of CSAs, whether their independence is important and how they can best be supported in their job
- where, in their opinion, CSAs should be placed in the reporting structure of a department and whether they should sit on departmental Boards or not
- whether CSAs can challenge decisions made by departments which is contrary to their advice
- whether there should be a Minister or cabinet committee with responsibility for all Government CSAs