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Regarding the disclosure of Government officials observing SAGE meetings, we agree with the redaction of...
Recommendation
Regarding the disclosure of Government officials observing SAGE meetings, we agree with the redaction of information to protect the personal data of individuals including junior officials at the time of the emergency. In the interests of transparency, and to have a full picture of who is formulating policy advice to Government during the course of the pandemic, it is important that the identities of senior officials and political advisers attending SAGE meetings are made public. We also note that the minutes of previous SAGEs activated for other emergencies were eventually published with full disclosure of all participants and observers. In response to this Report, the Government should commit to the full disclosure of the following information on SAGE attendees and observers throughout the pandemic: (1) Civil servants at Senior Civil Service grade; 76 The UK response to covid-19: use of scientific advice (2) political and special advisers; and (3) the representative Government departments and job title of junior officials, in lieu of their names. Further, the Government should commit to the full disclosure of all individuals who attended SAGE meetings—and their affiliations—within three months of the current SAGE being stood down, or by the end of 2021, whichever is the earlier.
Paragraph Reference
57
Government Response
Acknowledged
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
DHSC recognises the need for transparency and is committed to openness. Since July 2020, the JBC has published a range of publications including: • the Watchlist, published weekly, which gives epidemiological data on Covid- 19 for each lower-tier local authority in England • data used to inform the Local Action Committee (through which recommendations on Local Tiers have been developed), which includes epidemiological data and hospitalisation metrics • a joint publication with the ONS and PHE which brings together a range of indicators used to understand the Covid-19 epidemic in England. The JBC has also published the methodology behind its risk assessments used to support the UK COVID-19 Alert Level5 and Department for Transport’s international travel corridors6 policy; a range of research on wastewater; practical outbreak guidance through Action Cards,7 and will soon publish code and scientific research through its partnerships with the Alan Turing Institute and the Royal Statistical Society. Whilst the JBC is not a producer of official statistics, it works closely with the ONS, PHE, and NHS Test and Trace in the development of timely statistical outputs/releases on Covid-19. The JBC also engages with the Office for Statistical Regulation on a weekly basis alongside colleagues at DHSC, PHE and NHS Test and Trace respectively. The scope and membership of the JBC’s governance boards are currently published. the JBC’s website imminently. The Government is working with the Devolved Administrations to co-ordinate publication of minutes of the meetings of the tri-annual Ministerial Board, the quarterly JBC Steering Board and the quarterly Technical Board. 5 UK COVID-19 alert level methodology: an overview - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 6 COVID-19 risk assessment methodology for inbound international travel - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 7 COVID-19 risk assessment methodology for inbound international travel - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) In doing so, all nations will give due consideration to the provisions of relevant information access legislation. The JBC will continue to publish the minutes from its monthly Data Science Advisory Board.
Source
Report
First Report - The UK response to covid-19: use of scientific advice
08 Jan 2021
HC 136
Addressee Bodies
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Timeline
Recommendation age
5.4 yrs
Report published
08 Jan 2021