Source · Select Committees · Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
Recommendation 9
9
Not Addressed
Paragraph: 64
It is regrettable that full transparency was not achieved in time for the JBC’s inauguration...
Recommendation
It is regrettable that full transparency was not achieved in time for the JBC’s inauguration on 1 June. We welcome the disclosure of the expert advisory boards supporting the JBC. Nevertheless, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has yet to commit to publish the outputs, including meeting papers and minutes, of all the JBC’s established boards. It would appear that the Government has not learned fully from the public concern resulting from the initial delays in publishing SAGE information. The Department of Health and Social Care should commit, within a month of this Report, to publish the relevant outputs—including terms of reference, meeting papers and meeting minutes—of the steering and advisory boards supporting the JBC. DHSC should also set out how regularly these boards will meet and when relevant papers can be expected to be in the public domain—preferably within a fortnight of each meeting.
Government response summary AI-generated
The government response focuses on the transparency of SAGE publications and reasons for confidentiality, but does not commit to publishing the outputs or meeting schedules for the JBC's steering and advisory boards, as specifically requested by the committee.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Paragraph Reference:
64
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government · verbatim extract
Not Addressed
DHSC recognises the need for transparency and is committed to openness. Since July 2020, the JBC has published a range of publications including: • the Watchlist, published weekly, which gives epidemiological data on Covid- 19 for each lower-tier local authority in England • data used to inform the Local Action Committee (through which recommendations on Local Tiers have been developed), which includes epidemiological data and hospitalisation metrics • a joint publication with the ONS and PHE which brings together a range of indicators used to understand the Covid-19 epidemic in England. The JBC has also published the methodology behind its risk assessments used to support the UK COVID-19 Alert Level5 and Department for Transport’s international travel corridors6 policy; a range of research on wastewater; practical outbreak guidance through Action Cards,7 and will soon publish code and scientific research through its partnerships with the Alan Turing Institute and the Royal Statistical Society. Whilst the JBC is not a producer of official statistics, it works closely with the ONS, PHE, and NHS Test and Trace in the development of timely statistical outputs/releases on Covid-19. The JBC also engages with the Office for Statistical Regulation on a weekly basis alongside colleagues at DHSC, PHE and NHS Test and Trace respectively. The scope and membership of the JBC’s governance boards are currently published. the JBC’s website imminently. The Government is working with the Devolved Administrations to co-ordinate publication of minutes of the meetings of the tri-annual Ministerial Board, the quarterly JBC Steering Board and the quarterly Technical Board. 5 UK COVID-19 alert level methodology: an overview - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 6 COVID-19 risk assessment methodology for inbound international travel - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 7 COVID-19 risk assessment methodology for inbound international travel - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) In doing so, all nations will give due consideration to the provisions of relevant information access legislation. The JBC will continue to publish the minutes from its monthly Data Science Advisory Board.
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