110614 SAC waste final report June 2011

One of the aims of their exercise was to influence the round of policy-making beyond the Waste Review, through assisting Defra in identifying potential longer-term evidence requirements.

This report is an independent report by the Science Advisory Council, and in no way represents a Defra policy statement.

These vacancies were previously advertised but due to receiving a lower than expected number of applications, and following approval from the Commissioner for Public Appointments, we are re-advertising the positions and seek additional applications.

• Information about the role and the application process

The closing date for applications is 12 Noon, Friday 3 June 2011.

The new SAC will remain a Non Departmental Public Body (NDPB) and have a strengthened role in supporting the Chief Scientific Adviser in the oversight of all Defra expert scientific committees.  It will continue to provide independent advice and challenge to the Chief Scientific Adviser and Ministers on the science underpinning a range of Defra policies.

Professor Watson acknowledges the excellent support that he has received from the current SAC Members, and is grateful to the Chair and to all the members for their commitment and enthusiasm.  The recruitment programme for new Members, conducted in line with Nolan Principles, will commence in February 2011, with adverts placed in the Times and the Guardian, as well as the New Scientist. It is anticipated that successful applicants will be identified in July and that the first re-constituted SAC meeting will take place in September 2011.

• More details on the changes

In response to the report, Defra’s Chief Scientist, Professor Bob Watson said:

I am pleased to accept the report on behalf of the Department, and I am keen to explore taking forward a number of the recommendations. These include:

•  a review of the models currently used by policy makers across the department to support decision making (recommendations 1-4);
• The need for greater data sharing and transparency (recommendation eight) – this one of the most challenging recommendations and one that will need some careful thought and consideration as to how it may be achieved;
• The establishment of a modeling network or working group that brings together and draws on expertise from both across the Department, the Defra Agencies and wider academic and modeling community to share knowledge and best practice (recommendation 13). I envisage this group taking on the challenge of developing a good practice guide that sets out generic guidelines for the various stages of the model lifecycle but is flexible enough to be adapted to individual policy needs.

I will be inviting Heads of Profession and Senior Responsible Owners to meet with the authors of the report for a presentation and discussion of the findings and recommendations in early January. I will provide an informal response to the report at the full Science Advisory Council at the meeting on 20 February and will invite policy leads who contributed to the supporting case studies to do the same.

I would like to extend my thanks to the SAC-MOD sub-group for their excellent work on this important topic.

 Professor Bob Watson

This event is free to attend but pre-registration online is essential (closes at 4 pm on 18 October).  The agenda for the day and papers can be found below (please note the papers are in the order they will be discussed on the agenda).