Overview

This bill establishes an Office for Science Quality Assessment (OSQA) within the UK's National Audit Office. The OSQA will be responsible for auditing the scientific research used to inform government policy, ensuring its quality and validity.

Description

The bill creates the OSQA, headed by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) and a Chief Executive with scientific expertise. The OSQA will:

• Assess the scientific quality of research underpinning government policies.
• Review research used in various government publications (e.g., green papers, white papers, impact assessments) and submissions to parliamentary committees.
• Examine both published and unpublished research provided by public bodies.
• Assess research based on its reliability, accuracy, replicability, and validity.
• Publish reports within two months of completing assessments.
• The CAG is explicitly forbidden from questioning the policy's objectives themselves, only the evidence used to support those objectives.

Government Spending

The bill will lead to increased government spending. The exact amount isn't specified in the bill itself, but it will cover the establishment and operation of the OSQA, including staff salaries, operational costs, and any associated auditing fees.

Groups Affected

• Government Departments: Will be subject to OSQA audits of the research underpinning their published policies. This may lead to greater scrutiny of the evidence base for policy decisions.
• Researchers: Their research used by government departments will be subject to assessment, potentially impacting their reputation and the uptake of their work.
• Parliamentary Select Committees: The quality of evidence presented to them will be subject to greater scrutiny.
• The Public: Will potentially benefit from more robust and reliable evidence underpinning government policy decisions, leading to improved policy outcomes.

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