Established in 1939, the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee (P&SC) is the primary focus for scientific and technological issues providing a long-term liaison between Parliamentarians and scientific bodies, science-based industry, academia and organisations representing those significantly affected by science. The main aim is to focus on those issues where science and politics meet, informing members of both Houses of Parliament by indicating the relevance of scientific and technological development to matters of public interest and to the development of policy.

The P&SC has a long and distinguished history providing a dynamic and influential forum for driving change relating to science within Parliament and Government. The P&SC established the Parliamentary Office of Science & Technology (POST), the Parliamentary IT Committee (PITCOM) and was a progenitor of the Select Committees of Science & technology in both the House of Commons and the Lords. Today the P&SC carries forward this proud tradition in addressing science issues relevant to Parliamentarians and the scientific community; always looking for new ways to improve this dialogue and partnership for the benefit of the Nation.

The Committee meets once a month when Parliament is sitting to debate a scientific or technological topic and its relationship with political issues. These debates take place in the Palace of Westminster, starting at 5.30pm and are usually followed by informal receptions. Attendance is typically 60-80.

The Committee publishes Science in Parliament, which presents a record of science and technology within the House of Parliament and the European Community. It provides for the scientific community an insight into the information and briefings supplied to Members of Parliament on scientific subjects. Each issue includes reports on authoritative addresses to the P&SC, reports on the activities of the Science and Technology Committees in both House and a summary of the briefings provided for MPs by the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) and the Science and Environment Section of the House of Commons Library. The journal also contains digests of debates and Parliamentary Questions in the Parliament. A Science Directory provides a source of expert advise on scientific and technological subjects.

The activities of the P&SC are managed by 40 council members consisting of MP's, Peers and representatives of Academia, Industry and Science and Technology Organisations.

In 2009 the P&SC took responsibility for the Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) for Britain awards for early career scientists, an open scientific poster competition held in the Houses of Parliament every Spring.