Source · Select Committees · Health and Social Care Committee
Recommendation 105
105
Accepted
Sir John also highlighted concerns about how different academic disciplines did not collaborate sufficiently on...
Conclusion
Sir John also highlighted concerns about how different academic disciplines did not collaborate sufficiently on models.164 Professor James Poterba, Mitsui Professor of Economics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, explained to the Science and Technology Committee that the consequence of this was that some costs were not factored into models earlier in the pandemic: Many in epidemiology and in the health services area have realised that the economic cost of some of the policies their models suggested were very important to understand, and consequently they have become very concerned about building some more economics into those models in various ways.165 161 Oral evidence taken before the Science and Technology Committee on 5 June 2020, HC (2019–21) 136, Qq764– 765 162 Oral evidence taken before the Science and Technology Committee on 5 June 2020, HC (2019–21) 136, Q774 163 Oral evidence taken before the Science and Technology Committee on 5 June 2020, HC (2019–21) 136, Q768 164 Oral evidence taken before the Science and Technology Committee on 5 June 2020, HC (2019–21) 136, Q767 165 Oral evidence taken before the Science and Technology Committee on 5 June 2020, HC (2019–21) 136, Q770 44 Coronavirus: lessons learned to date
Government response summary AI-generated
The government accepts the underlying concern, stating that future policy development will involve greater questioning and challenge from ministers, and SAGE will facilitate strong external and structured challenge to scientific advice from diverse disciplines and international experts.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government · verbatim extract
Accepted
In future an approach of greater questioning and challenge should characterise the development of policy. Ministers should have the confidence to follow a scientific approach themselves—being prepared to take a more robust approach to questioning and challenging the advice given. The government and SAGE should also facilitate strong external and structured challenge to scientific advice, including from experts in countries around the world, and a wider range of disciplines.
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