The Parliamentary and Scientific Committee

Science, technology and innovation are important to everyone's daily life. Whether through global communications, health care, energy and transport, science and technology has an impact influencing the way we lead our lives and the quality with which we live it. Science and innovation shapes the world we live in affecting economic prosperity, social development and providing the means and the solutions to problems faced by humanity; new products, techniques and solutions are developed through the process of scientific research and innovation, which is fostered by government policy and legislation.

The UK Government is pursuing policies that create a knowledge-based economy, increasing innovation as a means of securing growth and prosperity for the country. However, UK S&I cannot operate and perform in a vacuum, it is a significant and important part of a global community of scientists. For the UK to position itself as a leading knowledge economy it needs to address the international dimension of S&I, an important vehicle of both political and economic influence. Building strategic alliances with international parties, fostered through agencies of government is essential for building meaningful long-term partnerships that will benefit all parties; partnerships addressing global issues such as terrorist threats, poverty reduction, disease management, climate change impacts and energy supply.

The UK Parliament interacts with science and innovation in many ways. It passes legislation that may support or regulate science and its applications. Select Committees scrutinise government's policy having a scientific and technological dimension and government is increasingly concerned with developing evidence-based policy. Most Parliamentarians do not have a technical background however S&I issues frequently arise in debates or questions to Ministers. Hence there is a need and demand for appropriate information and dialogue between Parliamentarians and the scientific community. Similarly for scientists to fully engage with Parliamentarians and Government there is a need for scientists to understand the structures, functions and processes of Parliament and Government that relate to and have an impact on science. Hence scientists need to be aware and knowledgeable of the process in which they can play a part, know who and how to contact relevant Parliamentary or Government science bodies.

The following information has been collated as a guide to science in Parliament and Government in the UK.