Category Archives: Parliament
CaSE Debate, 13 January 2010: Now Open to All
The Campaign for Science and Engineering, of which the BES is a member, is organising a debate on 13 January 2010 between the science spokespeople of the three major UK political parties. Lord Drayson, Science Minister, Adam Afriye, Shadow Science … Continue reading
Phil Willis MP Joins Policy Lunchbox Discussion
The Policy Lunchbox network was today joined by Phil Willis MP, Chair of the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee, for a wide-ranging discussion on ‘Putting science and engineering at the heart of government policy’. In welcoming Mr Willis … Continue reading
The Environmental Side of the Queen’s Speech
The Queen’s Speech in Parliament today, in which she set out the legislative agenda for the Government, was just 7 minutes long. This is far shorter than normal, and reflects the fact that there is very little parliamentary time between … Continue reading
BES hosts Parliamentary Reception on Biodiversity Post-2010
Last night the BES and the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (IEEM) held an evening reception in Parliament to launch their new position paper- ‘Conserving & Managing Biodiversity Beyond 2010‘. Together with Countdown 2010 and in association with the … Continue reading
House of Lords Announces Inquiry into Research Funding Decisions
The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee has announced a new inquiry into setting funding priorities for scientific and technological research. The Committee will investigate how Government and other public bodies responsible for the allocation of funding for science … Continue reading
IUSS Select Committee Publish Critical Report on Science in Government
The Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Select Committee has this morning published the report of its inquiry into ‘Putting Science at the Heart of Government’. The report concludes that the Government has reduced science to a political bargaining chip, with … Continue reading
EFRA Committee Publish Report on Food Security
The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Select Committee has today published a report examining the UK contribution to ensuring food security globally to 2050. “Securing food supplies up to 2050: the challenges for the UK” urges Defra to take … Continue reading
MPs Vote to Reinstate House of Commons Science and Technology Committee
MPs have voted (25 June) to reinstate the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee, in a welcome development for the scrutiny of the use of science by Government. The previous Science and Technology Committee was disbanded and became the … Continue reading
Government Refuses to Budge on Highly Protected Marine Conservation Zones
The UK Marine Bill continued its passage through Parliament yesterday with the first debates on clauses in the Bill taking place in the House of Commons Committee stage. The Bill entered the Committee Stage on 29 June with a first … Continue reading
Marine Bill through next stage of the Commons
A quick update to let you know that the Marine Bill had its second reading in the House of Commons yesterday. The second reading debate is unusual as it is not the time for detailed changes to be made to … Continue reading