IR539345 Annex
SUMMARY OF CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH (DH) AND THE GOVERNMENT CHIEF SCIENTIFIC ADVISER
(GSA) RELATED TO THE GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO THE SCIENCE
AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT “ EVIDENCE CHECK 2:
HOMEOPATHY” REFERRED TO IN PARA 9 OF THIS REPORT
• The House of Commons Science and Technology Committee
published their report on homeopathy on 22 February 2010
• Officials in the office of Sir John Beddington (the Government’s Chief
Scientific Advisor-GSA) requested a meeting with DH officials to
discuss the government’s response
• DH and GCSA officials subsequently corresponded about the
government’s response to those recommendations in the Committee’s
report (10,12 and 15) which made specific reference to the GSA
• They also corresponded about the process for clearing the response as
a whole prior to publication and about the arrangements for the latter
given the forthcoming General Election (the response, which would
normally have been published within two months of the Committee’s
report, was delayed on account of the Election)
• After the Election, officials corresponded about a further meeting to
discuss the timing and arrangements for publication and
correspondence about this continued after the meeting
• Later, officials corresponded about small amendments to the response
to some of the recommendations which mentioned the GSA
• GCSA officials also sought advice from DH officials prior to
appearances by Sir John and BIS ministers before Lords and House of
Commons Select Committees in July (these took place before the
government’s response was published)
• GCSA and DH officials also corresponded about some aspects of the
government’s response to other recommendations in the Committee
report (such as recommendation 33) and about correspondence
between BIS and DH ministers on this topic
• Sir John’s office also sought clarification about certain points in the
draft government response just prior to publication