Peers back scientists' freedom to speak out

Published on Monday 23 November 2009 21:58

PEERS in the House of Lords have backed scientific advisers to the government, insisting they must be allowed to make their views public.

Their support comes in the wake of Home Secretary Alan Johnson's decision to sack the government's chief adviser on drugs, Professor David Nutt, over his controversial remarks about cannabis and ecstasy.

Science minister Lord Drayson said he was working with the government's chief scientific adviser, Professor John Beddington, "to develop a set of principles to underpin the relationship between the government and independent scientific advisers".

Lord Drayson told peers there needed to be "clarity" about the "rules of engagement" between scientific advisers and the government and that a statement would be made on the subject before Christmas.

He said: "In the majority of cases, we have seen that scientists under the existing code of practice have been able to work effectively with government.

"But there is an important principle where scientists have spent the whole of their careers developing their scientific expertise in an area and they have to be able to publish, to give lectures, which they do subject to the consideration … of defence or other security measures."

Retired judge Lord Elystan-Morgan had asked about the freedom of scientists to advocate views at odds with the government "even to the point of proselytising for that policy".

Tory former cabinet minister Lord Jenkin of Roding said the current code for scientific advisory committees did not "deal expressly with the problem" that arose in the case of Professor Nutt and pointed to "profound dismay" in the scientific community caused by his sacking.