Lord Drayson responds to calls for a science select committee

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has issued a press release in response to the special report published by the IUSS last week:

Responding to the IUSS Committee's fourth special report of session 2008-9, "The future of science scrutiny following the merger of DIUS and BERR", Lord Drayson, Minister for Science and Innovation said:

"The creation of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills places science at the heart of the Government's strategy to help the economy come through the recession stronger, more competitive and more sustainable. Our ability to maintain and develop our strong science base will be essential to our long-term economic success."

"However, this change also creates a department with a huge remit. In this context, it is clearly no longer feasible for a single Select Committee to scrutinise both the work of the department and do justice to the assessment of science across Government."

"Both in my capacity as Science Minister and in light of my new responsibility for Defence R&D, the largest Government research budget outside the science and research ring-fence, it is my belief that the creation of a separate committee to look specifically at science across Government is necessary. I will be making the case for this to the Leader of the House."