WIREDGOV

Science review of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister - A report for Communities and Local Government

DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY News Release (P/2007/73) issued by The Government News Network on 3 April 2007

A study which examined how the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) managed and used science as part of its planning and policy making process, was today published by Sir David King, the Government's Chief Scientific Adviser.

The final report will now be handed to ODPM's successor, Communities and Local Government (CLG) to assist it in its development and use of science.

Sir David King said:

"It is vital that CLG continues its improvement in the use of science to respond effectively to its policy and regulatory demands.

"Policy solutions which are developed without taking account of all relevant science can be costly, both in terms of resources and reputation.

"I applaud CLG's appointment of Professor Michael Kelly as its Chief Scientific Adviser and welcome his enthusiasm for taking forward the recommendations of the Review.

"Through reviewing Government Departments and Agencies' use of science we can improve the way science - both social science and natural science - is managed, understood and drawn on as the basis for better policy making."

The report recognises CLG's progress in developing its Evidence and Innovation strategy and its commitment to build on this. The report commends the structural changes which the Department has introduced to encourage an integrated approach to the use of evidence.

Examination of evidence from major pieces of work commissioned by the Department identified the need for strengthening key systems and processes vital for ensuring the breadth and quality of the science. The report noted the lack of systematic guidance and processes to ensure the balanced consideration of all relevant science and for exposing its science to independent scrutiny. Further, the Review identified the need for CLG to strategically review the balance of its available analytical expertise in order to ensure that it can effectively respond to changing requirements.

Among other things, the report recommends:

* Strengthening of processes for commissioning research;

* Implementation of systems to review existing science and ensure the quality of analytical work through independent, external scrutiny.

* Greater engagement between policy and delivery customers and analysts to ensure the relevance of analytical work.

* Avoiding a gradual depletion of its scientific expertise, by increasing its efforts to maintain and develop its capabilities in the physical sciences.

Today's report is the fourth in a series looking at how each Government department can continue to improve its use of science.

Note to editors:

1. The fieldwork for the Review of ODPM was completed shortly after its responsibilities were incorporated in Communities and Local Government (CLG) which was created in May 2006. The report is therefore being directed at CLG

2. The draft report was discussed by the Steering Panel and CLG at the Panel's meeting last October and, following comments from members of the Panel, the draft report was revised and subsequently cleared by the Panel in January 2007.

3. A copy of the full report is available at: http://www.dti.gov.uk/science/science-in-govt/works/science-reviews/review/clg/page24794.html - Please note the report will not be available online until after 12pm today.

4 The Government's Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir David King, has set up a rolling programme of reviews to assess the quality and use of science by Government departments. For the purposes of the reviews a broad definition of 'science' is used, which includes natural sciences, social science, economics and statistics.

5. The overall aims of the review programme are to: (a) Maintain and improve the quality and use of science in government.

(b) Review existing departmental systems for assuring the quality, management and use of their science;

(c) Disseminate examples of best practice from within the UK and abroad

(d) Inform and support the Government's Chief Scientific Adviser in his role of "advising the Prime Minister and the Cabinet on the overall health of science and scientific research funded by Government departments".

6. To formulate a view on the quality and use of science in ODPM, the review focused on ten success criteria that underpin good practice in the use of science by Government departments, to identify both areas of good practice, especially that could be adopted elsewhere, as well as areas for improvement.

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