Advisory Group Terms of Appointment

GO-Science already provides support to SAGE participants before, during and after any SAGE activation. All SAGE participants receive a guidance document outlining their roles, responsibilities and the support available to them when they are invited to join the SAGE register of experts or to participate in a SAGE meeting. This includes details of the SAGE wellbeing services and direction on how to access them. It also sets out protocols and key principles for media engagement and detailed advice on personal and online security.

GO-Science will review and update the terms, conditions and support for participants by 2027 to ensure they have access to clear, comprehensive and up-to-date information in all the areas listed in the recommendation. As part of this, GO-Science will also develop guidance on when compensation may be applicable for universities, other institutions and private companies whose staff contribute extensively to SAGE during extended activations, resulting in significant time away from their substantive roles. Any compensation mechanism must be transparent and designed to uphold the integrity and independence of SAGE.

Accepted

The CSTA will work with the Department of Health and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs here to develop standard terms of appointment for all participants in scientific advisory groups, in line with the approach adopted by GO‑Science and other devolved governments.

The Scottish Government accepts this recommendation, acknowledging the commitment and contribution of all members of the Scottish Government Covid-19 Advisory Group and other advisory groups, including those individuals already seconded to the Scottish Government as senior scientific advisers.

Developing a more standardised, equitable and transparent approach to terms, conditions and support for all academic and expert advisers invited to scientific advisory groups, including those called in response to emergencies, would provide these expert advisers with consistency and clearer expectations of the implications of advising governments during an emergency. This approach was supported by feedback in discussions with CIREG.

Scientific advisory groups should provide clear, accessible scientific advice that can be readily understood by nontechnical audiences. During emergencies, additional advisory groups are also likely to contribute advice on how the Scottish Government should translate scientific evidence into operational or implementation guidance, taking account of how decisions may affect different groups of people.

These advisory groups may include experts with a wide range of professional backgrounds, lived experience, and representatives of stakeholder communities with shared interests or characteristics. To support all contributors effectively, the Scottish Government will set out principles within guidance for scientific advisory groups. This guidance will help ensure everyone who offers their time, expertise, and insight during emergencies is recognised appropriately for their contributions.

For the Scottish Government, this work will be led by the Office of the CSA, taking account of the experience of colleagues and expert advisers during the pandemic, the inquiry period, and other emergency activations, to ensure an improved offer of support across a number of areas. We will work closely with colleagues in GO-Science and the other devolved governments to help ensure a consistent approach.

1.12. The Welsh Government accepts the Inquiry’s recommendation 5, that it and the other governments should develop standard terms of appointment for all participants in scientific advisory groups. We recognise the huge contribution made by scientific experts, and we deplore the abuse and threats many of them faced, and we agree that the development of standard terms of appointment is essential if experts are to feel confident in supporting the work of governments in tackling future emergencies.

1.13. The Welsh Government agrees that each of the four nations should develop its own terms of appointment, which will enable us to reflect circumstances in each nation, but we also believe that there is a strong case for consistency across the UK. We will therefore work closely with the UK Government Office for Science, the Scottish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive in developing our terms of appointment, with a view to further advice being developed on progress for incoming Welsh Ministers by 30 September 2026.

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