Schematics of UK Governmental Science and Engineering Advice as Was and As Recommended. (July 24, 2009)

 The UK House of Commons Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee's report Putting Science and Engineering at the Heart of Government Policy makes the point that the committee are disappointed that the Government will not move the Government Chief Scientific Adviser and his Government Office for Science into the heart of Government, the Cabinet Office. The situation is similar to that currently prevailing in Australia where the Office of the Chief Scientist is housed in the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research rather than the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

The two schematics below show the situation before the June 2009 UK Cabinet reshuffle when the Government Office of Science (GO-Science) became part of the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills. (Figure 1), while Figure 2 shows the reorganisation recommended in the Universities, Science and Skills Committee's report.

Put succinctly the House of Commons committee believes science and engineering should have more of a say in the United Kingdom’s government policies.

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