Devolved Nations SAGE Attendance

GO-Science has already made the required changes to address this recommendation. The three Chief Scientific Advisers (CSAs) of the devolved governments remain the primary representatives of the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish governments at SAGE and will be invited from the outset of an emergency to observe. Participant status in SAGE will be extended subject to the nature of the emergency and the devolved government’s role in the response. Additionally, individual CSAs may be invited to participate if they hold relevant subject matter expertise. The status as observer or participant will be decided by the Government Chief Scientific Adviser (GCSA) in consultation with the devolved government CSAs to ensure devolved government interests are properly considered.

In addition, for emergencies impacting public health, the Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) of the devolved governments will be invited to attend SAGE if (as is likely for a health emergency where powers are devolved) there is legitimate devolved government interest in the response. Their status as participant or observer will depend on the nature of the emergency and will be a matter for the GCSA to decide with advice from the CMO England as the UK government’s Chief Medical Adviser and co-chair of SAGE in health emergencies. Continuation of the regular meetings of the CMOs of the four nations, separately to SAGE, also provides further opportunity for collaboration between the four nations.

For emergencies impacting animal health, the Chief Veterinary Officers (CVOs) of the devolved governments will also be invited to attend SAGE, with their status as participant or observer depending on the nature of the emergency and will be a matter for the GCSA to decide.

Attendees from the devolved governments may also request that additional officials from their organisations observe SAGE meetings or nominate a suitable deputy to attend on their behalf, if there is a legitimate reason to do so. As Chair of SAGE, the GCSA will have final approval of all attendees, ensuring that access to SAGE does not overwhelm its attendance.

This approach ensures that Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are represented at SAGE, and prioritises scientific and technical expertise that will produce the most relevant and high-quality advice for decision-makers during an emergency. In advance of an emergency, nominations of experts from across the four nations would also be welcomed, as part of the work to maintain a register of experts for SAGE (see recommendation 3).

Accepted

Following the appointment of Professor McCarthy as CSTA in June 2024, monthly meetings were established between the Chief Scientific Advisers (CSAs) of each devolved government.

Following discussions with the UK Government Chief Scientific Adviser and colleagues in the Government Office for Science (GO Science), confirmation was received that devolved government CSAs will attend SAGE from the outset of any future emergency.

During Exercise Pegasus in the autumn of 2025, CSTA was invited to the three simulated meetings of SAGE alongside Northern Ireland’s Chief Medical Officer. Consistent with the standard operating procedures developed for Exercise Pegasus, the CSTA disseminated key points from the SAGE meeting to the departmental CSAs in Health and DAERA to assist in departmental planning and response.

At the conclusion of Exercise Pegasus, the devolved government CSAs and the CMO provided collective feedback to GO Science and the Cabinet Office on the positive impact of attending SAGE.

The Executive recognises that additional representation on SAGE should be proportionate and contingent on the nature of the emergency. For example, the CMO should attend in the event of a health outbreak or emergency as was the case during Exercise Pegasus.

The Scottish Government welcomes this recommendation while recognising it is for UK Government (GO-Science) to implement.

Comments from CIREG reinforced the need for devolved voices to be embedded early and consistently in UK‑level scientific advice. Reflecting this, alongside work already undertaken with GO-Science to ensure the CSA for Scotland is an early attendee of any future stand-up of SAGE, the Scottish Government’s Office of the CSA has gained an agreement from GO-Science that the CSA for Scotland should be the lead initial Scottish Government attendee at SAGE, with the CMO and/or other colleagues also in attendance, depending on the emergency concerned.

The Scottish Government looks forward to continuing to work with colleagues in GO-Science to refine and agree updated arrangements for devolved governments attendance at SAGE. For the Scottish Government, this work will be led by the Office of the CSA.

1.3. The Welsh Government agrees with this assessment and welcomes the inquiry's recommendation 2, that the UK Government Office for Science should invite the governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to nominate a small number of representatives to attend meetings of SAGE from the outset of any future emergency. In doing so we note that the SAGE guidance itself says that "Departmental, DA and non-departmental government body CSAs (and CMOs and CVOs if relevant) are likely to form the initial core participants of any SAGE."

1.4. The composition of SAGE should reflect all nations of the UK if it is established on a UK basis to provide scientific advice, as a situation can originate in any part of the country. In such circumstances the Welsh Government will discuss and agree appropriate attendance at SAGE with the secretariat applying the principles of the SAGE guidance. We recognise the need to balance proper representation at SAGE with ensuring that it can undertake its functions efficiently and effectively. The Welsh Government will work with the Government Office for Science, and with the other devolved governments, to refine and agree updated arrangements for devolved representation at SAGE.

No statement on delivery from Government Office for Science has been found in the sources searched. This is separate from the response above.