Scientific Advice and Policy Making
New Guidelines were issued in July 2000, replacing the first edition issued in March 1997. They set out the following key principles which should be applied by those developing and presenting scientific advice as part of the policy making process.
Departments should:
- think ahead and identify early the issues on which they need scientific advice,
- get a wide range of advice from the best sources, incuding from overseas and from lay members of advisory groups and non-scientific stakeholders, particularly when there is scientific uncertainty. (Every effort should be made to avoid unconscious bias introduced by experts whose views are shaped by their own interests and experience.)
- give experts clear guidance on what is expected of them,
- publish the advice and all relevant papers, and
- remember that scientific advice is only one of a number of considerations which may need to be taken into account by decision makers. Other considerations might include social, political, economic, moral and ethical concerns.
Copies of the Guidance may be obtained from the Office of Science and Technology on 020 7271 2097.
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