Government Departments ignoring the importance of science
Save British Science today released evidence that many Government Departments are ignoring the importance of science.
“Five years ago, the Council for Science & Technology told the Government to get more scientists working in the civil service on short-term secondments; now we know that most departments have completely ignored this recommendation,” said Dr Peter Cotgreave, Director of SBS.
When asked in Parliament how many scientists had been seconded into their Departments,
ministers gave the following answers:
| Department | Number of scientific secondees |
| Home Office | Don't know |
| Trade & Industry | Don't know |
| Culture, Media & Sport | Don't know |
| Environnment, Food & Rural Affairs | 55 over three years |
| Education | NONE |
| Foreign Office | 16 over five years |
The full answers are available at
http://www.savebritishscience.org.uk/texts/documents/2004/SBS0403.pdf
“The only Departments that come out of this with any credit are DEFRA and the Foreign Office,” said Peter Cotgreave.
“It’s shocking that the DTI, which is the department responsible for science policy, has no idea how many scientists have come to work there, and almost unbelievable that the Education Department has not encouraged a single scientist to come and help out.
“What’s the point of having the great and good on the Council of Technology if ministers are simply going to ignore what they say? The Prime Minister will soon be announcing the new members of the Council. Let’s hope the Government is going to take more notice of what they say.”
“This issue isn’t just important to a narrow group of people interested in science,” said Peter Cotgreave, “At the end of last year, the House of Commons criticised the Home Office for having a ‘weak scientific culture’ in its response to international terrorism. Now we know one reason why.”
ENDS
For further information, contact Peter Cotgreave on 0207 679 4995