Overview

This bill establishes an Office for Science Quality Assessment (OSQA) within the National Audit Office (NAO). The OSQA will audit the scientific research used by government departments to inform policy decisions, ensuring the quality and validity of the evidence base underpinning those policies.

Description

The bill creates the OSQA, headed by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), and including a Chief Executive with scientific expertise. The OSQA's main function is to assess the scientific quality of research underpinning government policy. This includes research used in white papers, green papers, impact assessments, evidence submitted to parliamentary select committees, and other publications deemed appropriate by the CAG.

The CAG will assess research based on its scientific reliability, accuracy, replicability, and validity. Public bodies must provide research and data to the OSQA upon request. The bill clarifies that the OSQA will assess the quality of the research, not the merits of the policy itself. Assessments must be published within two months of completion. The bill’s scope extends to all UK nations.

Government Spending

The bill does not provide specific figures for government spending. However, it will involve establishing and running a new office within the NAO, incurring costs for staffing, administration, and potentially additional resources for carrying out assessments.

Groups Affected

• Government Departments: Will be subject to audits of the research used to inform their policy decisions. This may lead to increased scrutiny and the need to improve the quality of research used.
• Researchers: The research they conduct which underpins government policy may be subject to greater scrutiny and assessment.
• Public Bodies: Will be required to provide research and data to the OSQA upon request.
• Parliamentary Select Committees: Will benefit from having the quality of evidence provided to them assessed for scientific validity.
• The Public: Will benefit from increased transparency and accountability in government policymaking, based on higher quality scientific evidence.

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