Recommendation COVID-M2.3: UK-wide Expert Register
From Module 2: Core Decision-Making, published 20 November 2025.
Recommendation
The Government Office for Science (GO-Science) should develop and maintain a register of experts across the four nations of the UK who would be willing to participate in scientific advisory groups, covering a broad range of potential civil emergencies.
The register should be regularly refreshed through open calls for applications.
In brief (written by this site)
The Inquiry recommended creating a UK-wide emergency expert register refreshed through open calls. In March 2026, the UK Government (Cabinet Office) stated that the Government Office for Science (GO-Science) already maintains an expert register for the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE), is refreshing selection processes during 2026, and is working with devolved governments (Cabinet Office response, Mar 2026). The department explained in March 2026 that exploring options for open calls is a longer-term ambition due to resource requirements and the need for operational flexibility (Cabinet Office response, Mar 2026). It added in March 2026 that the register cannot be relied upon exclusively and that agile processes will continue to identify emergency expertise at pace (Cabinet Office response, Mar 2026). The record holds nothing dated later than the response of March 2026 (Cabinet Office response, Mar 2026).
Sources
AI-generated summary of the record on this page, checked by a second model and automatic checks, 7 Oct 2026. The record below is the sources' own words.
Government response
GO-Science already maintains an expert register for SAGE and is committed to refreshing the register; improving selection processes to broaden participation across disciplines, institutions and backgrounds; and increasing our engagement with experts outside of emergencies. During 2026, GO-Science will refresh its processes for expert selection, drawing on lessons from both exercises and activations, and detailing practical steps to support greater diversity. GO-Science is also committed to working with the devolved governments to ensure a robust central register for SAGE.
As a longer-term ambition, GO-Science will explore options for using open calls within our expert identification process, from full open calls across all the risks and disciplines that SAGE covers, through to targeted open calls to address specific expertise gaps or improve diversity. There are potentially significant implications, however, for example the potential size of the applicant pool, the assessment of applications and the resources required to manage the process will need to be carefully considered. The size of the central register must enable it to be used operationally during a crisis and the processes for expert selection need to remain flexible enough when faced with the unexpected.
While the register provides a crucial foundation for convening expert groups in an emergency, it cannot be relied upon exclusively given the breadth of possible scenarios the UK may face. Therefore, as well as improving the register, GO-Science will continue to strengthen the more agile selection processes that work alongside it to identify additional expertise at pace in an emergency.
Delivery
No statement on delivery from Government Office for Science has been found in the sources searched (last checked 20 October 2026). This is separate from the response above.
Responsible bodies
Themes and tags
Who has spoken
- UK Government
Response