The Agency is committed to a science- and evidence-based approach in all that we do, and this is reaffirmed both in our new strategy and our new science and evidence strategy (which we will publish early next year – watch this space!).
Independent expert advice is absolutely essential to this approach, and I welcome this week's publication of a set of principles that aim to ensure effective engagement between the Government and those who provide independent expert advice. The Department of Business, Innovation and Skills is inviting comments on these principles as part of a consultation on the Government’s Chief Scientific Adviser’s guidelines for the use of scientific analysis in policy making, which runs until 9 February 2010.
As I have said before, the journey from science advice to policy decision-making is complex, and needs to take into account wider issues beyond the confines of science. So I think it is really helpful to have this discussion now, and to try to develop a shared understanding of how this complex process should work. The Agency will be responding to this consultation and I will ask the independent General Advisory Committee on Science (GACS) for its views, to inform our response.
Of course, what ultimately matters is how we live up to our principles in practice – in my view the best guarantee of that is to operate openly and transparently. What do you think?