House of Lords Science and Technology Committee

House of Lords Science and Technology Committee
Name	Science and Technology Committee
Legislature	Parliament of the United Kingdom
Chamber	House of Lords
Foundation	1979 (as Select Committee on Science and Technology)
Chair	Baroness Brown of Cambridge
Chairparty	Crossbench
Chairsince	2023
Oversight	Government Office for Science
Keydocument	House of Lords

House of Lords Science and Technology Committee. It is a permanent Select Committee of the House of Lords charged with scrutinising government policy and activity across science and technology. Established in 1979, it examines issues of strategic importance, from artificial intelligence to climate change, producing influential reports that inform parliamentary debate and legislation. The committee is composed of members of the House of Lords with expertise drawn from academia, industry, and public life.

History and establishment

The committee was first established in 1979 as the Select Committee on Science and Technology, following a report by the Liaison Committee which recommended the creation of specialist investigative committees. Its formation reflected growing parliamentary recognition of the importance of scientific advice following initiatives like the Rothschild report. Initially appointed on an ad-hoc basis, it was reconstituted as a permanent sessional committee in 1991. Key figures in its early development included Lord Rothschild and Lord Shepherd.

Role and responsibilities

The core role of the committee is to conduct inquiries and produce reports on science and technology policy within the remit of the United Kingdom government. It holds the Government Office for Science, led by the Government Chief Scientific Adviser, to account and scrutinises the work of departments like the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. Its responsibilities include examining the scientific evidence base for government decisions, reviewing the health of the UK research base, and considering the ethical and regulatory implications of emerging technologies such as genome editing and quantum computing.

Membership and structure

The committee typically has twelve members appointed by the House of Lords. Membership is drawn from across the political spectrum, including the Conservative, Labour, and Liberal Democrat benches, as well as prominent Crossbench peers. The Chair is a backbench peer elected by the whole House; since 2023, this has been Baroness Brown of Cambridge, a former member of the Committee on Climate Change. The committee is supported by a specialist staff including a Clerk and often appoints external specialist advisers from institutions like the Royal Society or the University of Oxford.

Key inquiries and reports

The committee has published numerous seminal reports that have shaped national policy debates. Notable inquiries include its 2015 report on Academic Careers, which influenced the development of the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers. Its 2018 inquiry into Artificial intelligence examined the work of the Alan Turing Institute and informed the government's AI Sector Deal. Other significant reports have covered Regenerative Medicine, Nuclear Research and Development, and the resilience of the NHS during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Impact and influence

The committee's reports are formally presented to the House of Lords and the government is required to issue a formal response, often leading to changes in policy or legislation. Its 2020 report on Battery Strategy directly influenced the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy's industrial strategy. The committee's evidence sessions, which summon ministers, officials, and experts from bodies like the Wellcome Trust and National Physical Laboratory, provide a high-profile platform for scrutiny. Its work is frequently cited in debates in the House of Commons and by media outlets such as the BBC.

Relationship with other bodies

The committee works closely with its counterpart, the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee of the House of Commons, to avoid duplication and sometimes holds joint evidence sessions. It maintains formal links with the Government Chief Scientific Adviser and the Council for Science and Technology. It also engages with national academies like the Royal Academy of Engineering and funding bodies such as UK Research and Innovation. Internationally, it collaborates with similar committees in other parliaments, including those in the European Parliament and the United States Congress, on issues like biosecurity and space policy.

Category:House of Lords committees Category:Science and technology in the United Kingdom