Parliamentary Science and Technology Committee

Parliamentary Science and Technology Committee
Name	Parliamentary Science and Technology Committee
Legislature	Parliament of the United Kingdom
Chamber	House of Commons
Foundation	1979
Chair	Greg Clark (Conservative)
Website	https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/135/science-innovation-and-technology-committee/

Parliamentary Science and Technology Committee. A select committee of the House of Commons that scrutinizes the work of the Government Office for Science and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. It examines government policy, expenditure, and administration across the full spectrum of scientific research, technological innovation, and industrial strategy. The committee plays a crucial role in holding ministers and officials to account, while also informing public and parliamentary debate on critical issues from artificial intelligence to climate change.

History and establishment

The committee was first established in 1979, following recommendations from the Procedure Committee to enhance parliamentary scrutiny of the executive. Its creation was influenced by the growing recognition of science and technology's role in national competitiveness, as highlighted by earlier reports from bodies like the Council for Science and Technology. Initially named the Select Committee on Science and Technology, its remit has evolved alongside governmental reorganizations, such as the dissolution of the Department of Trade and Industry and the creation of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. Key figures in its early development included MPs like Sir Ian Lloyd and it has been periodically re-constituted after each general election.

Role and responsibilities

The committee's core function is to examine the expenditure, administration, and policy of its associated government departments, principally the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the Government Office for Science. It conducts inquiries into specific issues, taking written and oral evidence from a wide range of witnesses including ministers, civil servants from UK Research and Innovation, academics from institutions like the University of Oxford, and industry leaders from companies such as AstraZeneca. It is responsible for scrutinizing the work of the National Health Service, the Met Office, and agencies like the Health and Safety Executive where they intersect with science policy. The committee also monitors the implementation of major strategies, such as the UK National Space Strategy.

Membership and structure

The committee is composed of eleven Members of Parliament, reflecting the political composition of the House of Commons. Members are appointed by the House of Commons Commission and typically include backbenchers with relevant interests or expertise. The chair is elected by the whole House under the Wright Reforms; notable chairs have included Andrew Miller, Nicola Blackwood, and the current chair, Greg Clark. The committee is supported by a small team of specialist clerks from the House of Commons Library and can appoint specialist advisers, often leading academics from institutions like Imperial College London or the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Key inquiries and reports

The committee has produced influential reports on a vast array of topics. Seminal inquiries have included examinations of nuclear power and renewable energy, the regulation of genetically modified organisms, and the societal implications of human genome editing. Recent significant reports have focused on the COVID-19 pandemic, scrutinizing the government's scientific advisory system through the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, and the ethics of advanced artificial intelligence. Other notable reports have covered space debris, the security of 5G networks, and the research funding role of UK Research and Innovation.

Impact and influence

The committee's reports frequently shape government policy and legislation. Its recommendations have led to the establishment of new bodies like the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation and influenced the drafting of the Advanced Research and Invention Agency Act. Government departments are required to respond formally to its reports, and its evidence sessions can generate significant media coverage in outlets like the BBC and The Guardian. The committee's work has also informed debates in the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee and influenced international discussions within organizations like the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Relationship with other bodies

The committee maintains a close but distinct relationship with the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee, with the two bodies sometimes conducting complementary inquiries. It interacts regularly with the National Audit Office on value-for-money studies in science funding and with the Committee on Climate Change on environmental targets. It also engages with the wider scientific community through institutions such as the Royal Society, the British Academy, and the Campaign for Science and Engineering. While it scrutinizes the Government Office for Science, it maintains its independence from the executive, including the Prime Minister's Council for Science and Technology.

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