Chief Scientific Advisers across Government
One of the main recommendations of the Cross Cutting Review of Science and Research called for government departments that use science to appoint their own CSA. All major science using departments now have a Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA), except the Treasury and CSAs work together on cross-cutting issues. Their role forms part of the wider drive for evidence based policy and improved service delivery, with specific responsibility for ensuring the quality of scientific advice within their departments and agencies.
In some cases the GCSA leads in advising the Government on major cross-cutting issues, working with other CSAs. In doing so he engages the best scientists nationally and often internationally to help him and ensure that his advice is as robust as possible.
The Government Office for Science (GO-Science) has produced induction-briefing notes for newly appointed CSAs. The purpose of the induction notes is to provide a common framework of understanding of the importance of science and scientific evidence alongside other analytical disciplines to underpin evidence-based policy, regulation and delivery, and the respective roles of the Government Chief Scientific Adviser (GCSA) and the CSAs in achieving this.
More information regarding the roles and responsibilities of CSAs can be found in the Guidance to Government Departments on using science.
