§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Prime Minister what request she has received from the Holdgate committee to re-examine the role of the departmental chief scientists in Government; and what action she has taken to review the role of the chief scientist.
§ The Prime MinisterThe "Review of the Scientific Civil Service" Cmnd. 8032—said that departmental chief scientists had a central role in ensuring that policies were scientifically well founded and, where knowledge was insufficient, arranging for essential research and for the application of its results. It considered that this, and not the management of R&D, should be the chief scientists' chief role. It recommended that.
where this is not the case, departments should review the terms of reference and organisation of their Chief Scientists' commands accordingly".The Government agree with this recommendation; Departments have been asked to review their arrangements accordingly
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Prime Minister if she will list the Government Departments which do not have a chief scientist.
§ The Prime MinisterThe following major Departments do not have chief scientists:
- Civil Service Department
- Her Majesty's Customs and Excise
- Department of Education and Science
- Department of Employment
- Foreign and Commonwealth Office
- Inland Revenue
- Lord Chancellor's Department
- Northern Ireland Office
- Scottish Departments (other than Home and Health)
- Department of Trade
- Her Majesty's Treasury
- Welsh Office