Spotlight on future of science advice to government

Questions raised over transparency and next steps for Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies

The government’s chief scientific adviser has admitted it was “definitely a mistake” not to have been more transparent about the workings of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies from the outset of the Covid-19 crisis, saying it is an “important lesson to be learnt”. 

Patrick Vallance was speaking to the House of Lords science and technology committee on 17 July, where Sage co-chair, chief medical officer Chris Whitty, also described secrecy as an “error”.