§ Sue Doughty:To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the (a) composition, (b) budget and (c) activities of the Science and Society Directorate. [143542]
§ Ms Hewitt:As part of Office of Science and Technology the role of the Science and Society Directorate is an overarching, strategic cross departmental one, working with partners to identify and tackle major issues and to provide fresh evidence, insights, approaches and solutions.
The Directorate was established in July to contribute to driving up UK productivity and competitiveness by improving the work of the Government on: ensuring 647W young people are equipped to engage with scientific issues as active citizens of the future; raising public awareness, engagement and support of science; ensuring there is a sufficient supply of scientists and engineers; and promoting the involvement of women and ethnic minorities in science.
The Directorate includes 13 staff and brings together four teams: the DiverSETy Team, which is currently responding to the Greenfield Report; the Public Engagement Team which works to increase public awareness of the role of science in society and everyday life; the Science in Schools Team, which works with external interests to deliver activities into schools that enhance the curricula; and the Supply of Scientists Team, which is focusing on responding to the Roberts Review.
Purpose of secondment Reimbursement to the Department (£) Cost to the Department A developmental opportunity to increase knowledge of environmental issues in the energy sector 16,062 per year Nil A developmental opportunity to increase knowledge of the financial services sector. 45,523 per year Nil A developmental opportunity to gain first-hand experience of sales and marketing in a large plc. Net cost nil. The Department remains responsible for the secondee' s salary costs during the secondment, but in return the Department receives a secondee from the host organisation A developmental opportunity to increase business awareness by working in a large plc. Net cost nil. The Department remains responsible for the secondees's salary costs during the secondment, but in return the Department receives a secondee from the host organisation A developmental opportunity to increase knowledge of the international nuclear energy business. Net cost nil. The Department remains responsible for the secondee's salary costs during the secondment, but in return the Department receives a secondee from the host organisation In addition, we also run a programme of one week attachment—the "Week in Business" scheme for Senior Civil Servants. The aim of the "Week in Business" short-term external attachment scheme is to help the Department to become more outward facing with a greater understanding of the issues facing our external stakeholders. It is also key in helping members of the SCS to gain experience of different ways of working so that good practice can be adopted internally.
The scheme is also a mens of promoting the DTI to our external customers and making them more aware of how the Department operates and what we can offer.