AN INTRODUCTION TO AN INTRODUCTION TO SCIENCE POLICYSCIENCE POLICY

Newton’s AppleNewton’s Applewww.newtons-apple.org.ukwww.newtons-apple.org.uk

Science Policy WorkshopScience Policy WorkshopUniversity of Reading 2016University of Reading 2016

Today we aim to show

that your research and experience can have a policy impact

how the UK science/policy interface operates

What politicians and civil servants do on science related issues

how you can get involved in shaping science policy and scientific evidence-based policy

Some Science policy issues The budget and priorities for Government

spending on science How science and technology priorities are

decided Organisation of Research Councils Regulation of scientific research Use of Scientific evidence for

departmental policies Advisory committees in Departments

Science Policy – about science itself

Health and Safety regulations Regulations on use of Radioactive isotopes and radiation Human Tissues Act 2008 - working with human tissues Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 - working with human gametes and embryos

Legislation regulating experiments with animals

[EU regulations – pesticides; chemicals]

Some policies that affect the way that scientists workSome policies that affect the way that scientists work

Some policies which need scientific input - 1 Energy generation – nuclear,renewable,fracking Technical standards for traded goods Human reproductive techniques Public health Tuberculosis in Cattle and role of Badgers Sustainable food production International development projects Transport developments and safety

Some policies which need scientific input- 2 Pollution and Air Quality Noise pollution and control Spending on space – satellites for earth

observation etc Cyber crime International climate change decisions Water management, nationally and internationally Building regulations Land use and management

Giving Effect to Policy – the Roles

ParliamentGives effect to Policy through legislation

GovernmentDevises and develops Policy

Government Structure

Secretaries of State

Ministers

Parliamentary UnderSecretaries

Civil servants – including Chief Scientists

Elected MPs or appointed Peers

from political party in office

Impartial

Prime Minister

Some Government Departments using Science-based Evidence

• Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

• Department of Health

• Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

• Home Office

• International Development

• Department for Transport

Sources of S&T input to Government

Government Chief Scientific Adviser (GCSA) and Chief Scientists within Departments

Government Executive Agencies Part of a Government Department- eg UK Space Agency, Defence Science and Technology

Laboratory, Criminal Records Bureau, Public Health England

Task forces, advisory groups / reviews Short-term, created to give expert advice on specific issues

Executive and Advisory Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs) (or Quasi Autonomous non-governmental bodies (Quangos))

Not part of Government Appointed by Parliament Long-term remit e.g. Environment Agency, English Nature, Human Tissue Authority, NHS England, National Measurement and Regulation Office

Sources of S&T input to Government

Sources of S&T input to Government

Non-Ministerial Departments (NMDs) Deliver particular Government functions Arms length from Government and report to Parliament Long-term remit e.g. Food Standards, UK Statistics Agency, HMRC, UK Trade and Investment

700+ NDPBs and NMDs now reduced 330

106 abolished so far – includes the RDAs 150 merged into 70 Roles of others taken over by other Governmental

bodies Some privatised Process is continuing

Sorces of S&T input to Government

Other Scientific Organisations influencing policy…

• National Academies

• Pressure groups, think tanks etc

• Chartered Institutes, Learned Societies, Trade Associations, Professional Federations

Department of Business, Innovation and Skills

The Science Budget and funding the Research Councils Sponsoring and funding HEFCE to give students the skills needed to compete in a global employment market - ensuring UK workforce has necessary skills Policy on innovation - supporting UK’s science and research based industry

Ensuring that consumer law is fair for both consumers and businesses

Responsible for:

Supporting British businesses to increase productivity and compete anywhere in the world

Better regulation - cutting the amount of regulation and making it easy to understand

Government Office for Science

Ensures Government Policy is underpinned by robust scientific evidence.

Reviews Government funded science, works across all Departments.

Headed up by the Government Chief Scientific Adviser (GCSA)

Government Office for Science

Responsible for: Giving scientific advice to the Prime Minister and Cabinet Members

Ensuring and improving the quality and use of scientific evidence and advice in government – by creating and supporting connections between officials and the STEM community. Providing the best scientific advice in the case of emergencies, through the  Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE)

Helping the independent  Council for Science and Technology (CST) provide high level advice to the Prime Minister

The Council for Science and Technology

Senior figures in Science, Engineering and Technology from academia and industry.

Independent advisory body Advises Prime Minister and Cabinet Responds to Government requests for information

and advice Can also set its own agenda Holds inquiries; gets research done; produces

reports Publishes its deliberations on its website

Input on scientific issues to influence policy Special advisers (political appointments) Established scientific groups – e.g climate

change panel Royal Society etc Learned Societies Parliamentary Select Committees Research groups in universities Companies lobbyists you

Parliament

827 Peers Life or hereditary (92) and

26 C of E Bishops

650 Members of Parliament

Elected Appointed

Party Manifesto discussions

Drafting the Bill

Government

Royal Commission

s

Select Committee

Reports

Select Committee

Pre-Legislative Scrutiny

Opportunities to engage with Policy

The formulation stage

= points where input into policy can be made

Green Paper

White Paper

Departmental consultations

PublicConsultation

Parliament

Private Members

BillPublication

House of Commons

First Readin

g

Second Reading

Committee Stage

Third Reading

Report Stage

DEBATES

Early Day

Motions

Select Committee Reports

House of Lords

Third Readin

g

First Readin

g

Second Reading

Committee Stage

Report Stage

Royal Assen

t

Actof

Parliament

Opportunities to engage with Policy

The Parliamentary stages in Law making

= points where input into policy can be made

Influencing Science policy in Influencing Science policy in ParliamentParliament

- Groups established to address specialist interests

- All Party Parliamentary Groups

- Parliamentary Office for Science and Technology (non-partisan) (POST)

- Parliamentary and Scientific Committee:- MPs, Peers, Industrialists, Academics and Individual members

- S&T Select Committees in the House of Commons and the House of Lords

- Individual MPs and Lords

Engaging with policy Be aware of how your own research has a

context in local, regional and national policy

Work with your local MP - Early day motions. Private Members Bills, etc Become involved in the policy work of your learned society or trade association by providing information and views on issues Provide input into reports, consultations and calls for evidence

Engaging with policy Does it work? Can the scientist be influential

on policy and law making?

But -Parliament and Government must balance views from different directions and with different agendas in formulating policy

Some examples of a positive effectLight Pollution and effect on Astronomy – Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008Protection for researchers using animalsGrowing acceptance of GMSaving MRI from damaging regulations

Engaging with policy But sometimes “politics” can get in the way of “Policy”

– despite the scientific evidence

Example - Improving Air Quality vs the Diesel Lobby

Government Office for Science

Risk Innovation Trade & Finance

Structure

Energy Energy Climate & Change

Life Course Cities Life Course Cities DD

Data &Analytics

Resilience

Infrastructure

Support for Sage

Profession Leadership &

supportScience Capability

CST Secretariat

Foresight Projects

Horizon Scanning

Project Development

Office