The Government Office for Science (GO-Science), headed by the Government Chief Scientific Adviser (GCSA) is located in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) but is professionally independent of it and reports to the Prime Minister and Cabinet. GO-Science exists to ensure that Government policy and decision-making is underpinned by robust scientific evidence and long-term thinking.

The GCSA is responsible for:

• Providing scientific advice personally to the Prime Minister and members of Cabinet (in consultation with Departmental Chief Scientific Advisers when appropriate)
• Advising the Prime Minister and Cabinet on aspects of Government policy on science and technology
• Ensuring and improving the quality and use of scientific evidence and advice in Government
• Heads the science and engineering profession in government

The principal role of GO-Science is to support the GCSA in carrying out his functions. It consists of two main Management Units; Science in Government (SiG) and Foresight.

• Covers the frameworks for the management and use of science in Government
• Supports the cross-Government community of Departmental Chief Scientific Advisers (CSAs)
• Undertakes science and engineering assurance exercises of departments
• Supports the GCSA on specific issues e.g. climate change, food and civil contingencies and in his role as Head of Science and Engineering Profession (HoSEP) in Government.
• Hosts the secretariat for the Council for Science and Technology.

Foresight and its Horizon Scanning Centre are a part of GO-Science within BIS. Foresight projects apply cutting-edge science and futures techniques to assess potential long-term challenges and opportunities. The Horizon Scanning Centre undertakes and maintains cross-cutting scans, as well as supporting departments in specific horizon scanning projects and in developing their own horizon scanning capacities.

Chief Scientific Advisers Committee (CSAC) and CSAC Core Issues Group (CIG)

The GCSA works closely with the network of Departmental Chief Scientific Advisers. Under the leadership of the GCSA, CSAs both support each other and work together to address and advise on cross-cutting issues. They do this primarily through the Chief Scientific Advisers Committee (CSAC), which meets regularly to discuss issues relating to science and engineering across government. In particular, it:

• Provides collective advice to Ministers
• Discusses and facilitates implementation of policy on science and engineering
• Identifies and promulgates good practice on science and engineering, including their use in policy making
• Facilitates communication on particular high profile science, engineering and technology issues and those posing new challenges for government

The CSAC Core Issues Group (CIG) is a committee initiated by the current GCSA to identify and drive progress on key priority issues to which CSAs acting jointly can expect to add value.

It is a crucial feature of the role of CSAs that they are able to maintain their professional independence while working as civil servants. This demonstrates that there is no political interference with the scientific advice given to government. The corollary of this professional independence is that CSAs are not bound by Ministerial collective responsibility to defend each and every government policy and can have an independent profile in the media.

The Global Science and Innovation Forum, (GSIF) is chaired by the GCSA (supported by the International Science and Innovation Unit (ISIU) and GO-Science). The GSIF co-ordinates and exchanges information on overseas science and innovation strategies, and coordinates the implementation of the UK's global and innovation strategy. The GSIF has the following members:

• Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (including trans-departmental research base and innovation areas)
• Foreign & Commonwealth Office
• Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Department of Energy and Climate Change
• Department for International Development
• UK Trade and Investment
• Technology Strategy Board
• Regional Development Agencies (represented by the South East England Development Agency)
• British Academy
• British Council
• Royal Academy of Engineering
• Research Councils UK
• Department for Transport
• Royal Society
• Research Councils UK
• Department for Education and Skills
• HM Treasury
• Department of Health
• Home Office