House of Commons Science and Technology Committee

House of Commons Science and Technology Committee
Name	House of Commons Science and Technology Committee
Legislature	Parliament of the United Kingdom
Chamber	House of Commons
Chairperson	Greg Clark
Chairperson term	2020–present
Chairperson party	Conservative
Foundation	1979 (as the Select Committee on Science and Technology)
Jurisdiction	United Kingdom
Website	https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/135/science-innovation-and-technology-committee/

House of Commons Science and Technology Committee. It is a select committee of the House of Commons that examines the administration, expenditure, and policy of the Government Office for Science and its associated public bodies. The committee scrutinizes the work of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and holds ministers and officials to account on a wide range of scientific and technological issues. Its inquiries inform parliamentary debate and influence government policy on critical matters from artificial intelligence to climate change.

History and establishment

The committee was first established in 1979 as the Select Committee on Science and Technology, following reforms to the select committee system championed by Norman St John-Stevas. Its creation reflected a growing parliamentary recognition of the importance of science and technology to the UK's economy and society. Initially, it covered a vast remit, including the research councils and the former Department of Education and Science. Over the decades, its precise title and departmental responsibilities have shifted with governmental reorganizations, such as the creation of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and later the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. Key figures in its early development included chairs like Sir Ian Lloyd and it has operated continuously, except for a brief period between 1992 and 1995 when it was subsumed into other committees.

Role and responsibilities

The core role of the committee is to conduct scrutiny of the government's science and technology policy, spending, and administration. It examines the work of the Government Chief Scientific Adviser and the Council for Science and Technology. Its responsibilities extend to overseeing the UK's research and innovation landscape, including the seven UK Research and Innovation councils like the Medical Research Council and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. The committee also holds evidence sessions with ministers from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, academics from institutions like the University of Oxford, and leaders from industry and bodies such as the Royal Society.

Membership and structure

The committee typically consists of eleven Members of Parliament drawn from across the House of Commons, reflecting the political composition of the House. The chair is elected by the whole House under the Wright Committee reforms. Notable chairs have included Andrew Miller, Nicola Blackwood, and the current chair, Greg Clark. Members often have backgrounds or declared interests in scientific fields, and the committee is supported by a team of specialist clerks and advisers from institutions like the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology. It frequently appoints external specialist advisers for specific inquiries, drawing on expertise from organizations such as the Francis Crick Institute or the Alan Turing Institute.

Inquiries and reports

The committee launches inquiries into topical and strategic issues, gathering written and oral evidence before publishing reports with conclusions and recommendations. Recent inquiries have covered subjects like pandemic preparedness, the security of research integrity, the regulation of genome editing, and the commercialisation of space technology. Its reports are formally presented to the Parliament and the relevant government department, which is required to issue a formal response, typically within two months. These documents often become key reference points in debates within the Palace of Westminster and in the media.

Impact and influence

The committee's work has directly shaped government policy and legislation in several areas. Its 2011 report on science in schools influenced the Department for Education's curriculum reforms. Inquiries into antibiotic resistance informed the UK's Five Year Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy. Its scrutiny of major projects, such as the High Speed 2 railway line and the Sizewell C nuclear power station, has led to increased governmental transparency on the scientific evidence used in decision-making. The committee's recommendations often feed into the work of other bodies, including the National Audit Office and the Committee on Climate Change.

Notable inquiries and controversies

The committee has conducted several high-profile and sometimes contentious investigations. Its inquiry into the government's handling of the BSE crisis was highly critical of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. A major investigation into homeopathy concluded that it performed no better than a placebo, leading to a clash with practitioners and the Prince of Wales. More recently, its examination of the scientific response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the performance of the NHS Test and Trace system and the advice provided by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, generated significant political and public debate. Another notable inquiry scrutinized the environmental risks of fracking in the UK, challenging the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero's regulatory assurances.

Category:House of Commons of the United Kingdom select committees Category:Science and technology in the United Kingdom Category:1979 establishments in the United Kingdom