Brussels, 23 Jul 2003
The body providing scientific advice to the UK government is to be reorganised in order to make clearer its role in relation to government priorities.
The new terms of reference for the Council on Science and Technology (CST) include advising the Prime Minister on the strategic policies and framework for sustaining and developing science, engineering and technology (SET) and promoting international cooperation. The CST will also foster the practice and perception of SET as an integral part of UK culture, promote excellence in SET education, and make more effective use of advice in the development and delivery of policy and public services.
'Science, engineering and technology are key to our future well-being and prosperity,' said Lord Sainsbury, the UK's Minister for Science and Innovation. 'CST's role is more important than ever as the government moves to make the UK a world leader in the knowledge based economy.'
The council will work on cross-cutting issues of strategic importance. It will continue to report to the Prime Minister, but in order to emphasise that its work is important to all sectors of the government, it will no longer be chaired by a government minister, but will be jointly chaired by the government's Chief Scientific Advisor, Sir David King, and one independent member of the CST.
'CST's new organisation and strengthened links to ministers across government will mean more effective strategic advice to government. I expect CST to provide a strong complement to my own cross-cutting role as government takes forward its science strategy,' said Sir David.
The CST's independent members are drawn from academia, business, the financial sector and charitable sponsors.
For further information on the CST, please visit:
http://www.cst.gov.uk