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Science in Government

The Office of Science and Innovation (OSI) aims to improve the quality and use of science and technology (S&T) advice across Government and increase public confidence in the Government's use of S&T.  Building on the strategic approach of the 2002 Cross-Cutting Review of Science and Research, we aim to ensure that Government achieves better policy, delivery and regulation by using the best available scientific evidence.

To achieve this OSI co-ordinates and develops policy on how Government seeks and uses scientific advice in policy making, the presentation of that advice and decisions based on it. These policies are outlined in two key documents; Guidelines on Scientific Advice on Policy Making and the Code of Practice for Scientific Advisory Committees, which draw on key principles enunciated by Lord Phillips in his BSE Inquiry Report and are covered in the Government's Response.

The cross cutting review was followed in January 2004 by the 10 year Science and Innovation Framework 2004 - 2014.  Published alongside the 2004 Spending Review this framework links private and public investment intentions to the longer-term economic goals and medium term indicators of progress.

OSI also has the responsibility to improve the quality and use of S&T advice by government departments. We do this by monitoring how well departments are doing against the objectives set out in Chapter 8 of the framework which includes a pen picture of where we would like to be in 2014, broken down into 8 attributes.

Since the cross-cutting review OSI have engaged in various activities such as:

• Providing guidance to Government departments to ensure that the best scientific advice and evidence in sort out and incorporated into departmental procedures and practices;
• Supporting departments in producing Science and Innovation strategies to underpin evidence-based policy development and improved service delivery;
• Introducing a rolling Review programme of Science in Government departments to assess its quality and use;
• Providing advice to the Government Chief Scientific Adviser (GCSA) and to Ministers on scientific aspects of major cross-departmental policy issues, including contingency planning, nanotechnologies, energy & climate change.
• Supporting the Government's Delivery and Reform Agenda which includes the Professional Skills for Government (PSG) initiative designed to ensure that civil servants, wherever they work, have the right mix of skills and expertise to deliver effective policy and services;
• Supporting the GCSA in his role of Head of Profession for scientists and engineers within the Civil Service and working across government to build, support and champion the science and engineering community.

Further details on these activities can be found using the navigation links on the left hand side of the screen. Documents referred to can be found under the related documents section.