§ Dr. Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether his Department has a chief scientific adviser. [162477]
§ Hilary Benn: In view of the wide range of disciplines required for the tasks of the Department, DFID does not have a single Chief Scientific Adviser. Rather, the Head of Research maintains the liaison function with the Office of Science and Technology, drawing, as appropriate, upon the expertise and perspectives of the various advisory groups in the Department.
DFID is currently reviewing whether these arrangements need to be modified in any way to ensure that its research, policy and country programs continue to make effective use of up to date and relevant scientific knowledge.