Source · Select Committees · Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
Recommendation 5
5
Not Addressed
Paragraph: 45
We believe the initial response in setting up SAGE was timely.
Recommendation
We believe the initial response in setting up SAGE was timely. We have heard from some sectors of the science community that the community was not consulted appropriately. The Government should set out in response to this Report how in future emergencies it will engage formally and informally with the community.
Government response summary AI-generated
The government expressed appreciation for scientific contributions and outlined support for SAGE participants and their universities, including future plans for recognition. However, it did not set out a plan for how it will formally and informally engage with the broader science community in future emergencies.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Paragraph Reference:
45
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government · verbatim extract
Not Addressed
Through SAGE and its sub-committees, the Government has drawn on advice from a wide and diverse pool of advisers from across the scientific community. This has included securing input from; environmental scientists; public health experts; behavioural and social scientists; epidemiologists; virologists; data scientists; immunologists; infectious disease clinicians; epidemiological modellers; doctors; genomic experts; anthropologists; psychologists; and therapeutics and vaccine experts. SAGE is also supported by a number of expert sub-groups and task and finish groups which bring to bear even wider relevant expertise on specific issues. Diversity of thought and expertise is important, and GO-Science has invested in establishing and developing links with a range of different sectors, and with the learned societies. These positive and constructive relationships and ways of working will be maintained and developed contributing to the future operations of SAGE as appropriate.
Read the full response on Parliament ↗