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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