SUMMARY OF COUNCIL MEETING ON 4
MARCH 2002
Purpose
1. The Council met to:
- Consider the DFES green paper on 14-19
Education, and the Council’s response to this consultation.
- Consider the emerging conclusions of the
SR2002 review of Science and Research.
- Take stock of the new Foresight programme.
- Consider matters relating to the impending CST Quinquennial Review and Appointments Process together with future work programme.
2. Discuss the outcomes from the recently published Performance and
Innovation Unit (PIU) energy review, and the related Energy Research
Review conducted by Professor King.
Attendees
3. The meeting was chaired by Professor King in the absence of Mrs.
Patricia Hewitt and Lord Sainsbury. The independent members present
were:
Mr. Jarvaid Aziz, Mr. Euan Baird, Professor Kumar Battacharyya,
Professor Sir Alec Broers, Professor Vicki Bruce, Sir Christopher Evans,
Professor Dame Julia Higgins, Sir Paul Nurse, Professor Peter
Schuddeboom and Professor David VandeLinde.
4. Also in attendance were Dr John Taylor (Director General of Research
Councils), Ms. Judy Britton, Mr. Steve Elton, Mr. Maurice Potts, Ms.
Julie Carney, Mr. John Jones (DFES) and Mr. Martin Hollins (QCA).
Discussions and Outcomes
(i) 14-19 Education
5. Members heard from John Jones (DFES) and Martin Hollins (QCA)
concerning this new green paper, and the vision, rationale and new
structure that it proposes, including a new route into a second GCSE
science, leading to either an AS/A2 qualification, or into technical science
qualifications.
6. Members welcomed the paper, and in discussion expressed the need to
guard against too much ‘qualification’ and insufficient ‘education’.
7. Members agreed that the basis of their discussions as recorded within
the minutes would be used as the collective CST response to the
consultation.
(ii) SR2002 Science and Research
8. Members received a paper outlining the contents of this report, which
was at very early stage.
9. Dr. John Taylor welcomed the report and thanked members for their
helpful thoughts on the subject. Members expressed their contentment
with the present draft, which provides an excellent narrative and
achieved a real grasp of the issues.
10. Members agreed to maintain a watching brief on developments.
(iii) Foresight Programme
11. Members heard an update from Julie Carney of Foresight directorate
concerning the new Foresight programme, which has now been agreed by
Ministers.
12. The new programme would concentrate on fewer issues, and comprise
studies based upon issues where science holds the promise of a solution,
or an area of cutting edge science involving disruptive technologies
warranting further consideration or articulation.
13. Members noted that the first pilot reviews on Flood and Coastal
Defences and cognitive systems and developments in neuroscience would
get underway in April, with a consultation period over the summer.
(iv) Quinquennial Review of CST
14. Members noted a paper concerning the impending quinquennial review
of CST which would take place during 2002 concurrently with the
appointments round which would need to take place in order to replace a
number of members whose appointment period would come to a close.
15. Members are to be consulted concerning any points they would like to
have taken into account prior to, or during the review itself.
(v) Programme of work 2002/2003
16. Members noted a paper on this subject outlining the immediate work
priorities for CST as taking steps towards getting the services study
underway together with the quinquennial review and appointments process,
which would have to be conducted concurrently in order to meet the
appointments deadline of April 2003.
17. In discussion, members noted two other proposed work topics; The
European Research Innovation Area (ERA), and performance measures for
monitoring the outputs and outcomes of public expenditure of S&T.
CST would be provided with a position paper on the former at the next
meeting, and a paper on the latter in December 2002.
18. Members noted that whilst the topics of (ERA) and performance
measures were important, work should only be commenced on these work
topics once more immediate work permitted.
(vi) Energy and Energy Research Reviews
19. Members noted a paper on the recent review of energy conducted by
the (PIU) and heard an outline of the associated Energy Research Review
conducted by Professor King.
20. In essence, the report had found that whilst there was no immediate
supply crisis relating to security of supply, security needed to be kept
under review within a global context. On the other principal issue
studied of ‘Climate change’, some further action was needed,
specifically in relation to energy targets and vehicle efficiency.
21. The Government is to start a consultation period shortly, into which
members agreed there should be a CST contribution. There would be a
white paper in response later in the year.
CST Secretariat
April 2002
