MP's with Science qualifications to at least BSc level

Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills did not have the information requested.

Dear Sir or Madam,
My concern relates to the observed poor standard of 'problem solving' among our MP's.
Living in our highly technical and scientific society I question if our legislators possess the necessary analytical skills to identify the problems let alone the solutions.
A good science background is essential if we are to make sound judgements on questions relating to global warming, alternative energy resources, IT strengths and limitations etc.etc.
Could the reason for so many government implemented schemes,
like NHS computer network failures, disappearing into 'expensive black holes' be the result of poor scientific backgrounds.
If possible,(a) I would appreciate an analysis of MP's with basic science qualifications (BSc level) compared to the number who do not and (b) what percentage of MP's have been educated to Degree level in any discipline?

Yours faithfully,

Ian Walker

Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills

Thank you for your recent email. A reply will be sent to you as soon as
possible (where a response is required). For information, the
departmental standard for correspondence received is that responses
should be sent within 15 working days or 20 working days if you are
requesting information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Your correspondence has been allocated the reference number 2009/0013057

Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills
http://www.dius.gov.uk/index.htm

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Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills

Thank you for your recent email. A reply will be sent to you as soon as
possible (where a response is required). For information, the
departmental standard for correspondence received is that responses
should be sent within 15 working days or 20 working days if you are
requesting information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Please be aware that your correspondence has been allocated a NEW
reference number 2009/0013321.

Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills
http://www.dius.gov.uk/index.htm

show quoted sections

Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills

Dear Mr Walker
Thank you for your e-mail of 10 February, addressed to the Department for
Innovation, Universities and Skills' Information mailbox, requesting for
information about MP's qualifications. Your request was made under the
Freedom of Information Act. On this occasion I have been asked to reply.

I am sorry to tell you that the Department has been unable to answer your
questions within the timeframe agreed for correspondence from members of
the public, in accordance with Whitehall standards. Officials continue to
look into your request. I hope to reply to you again shortly.

I apologise for any inconvenience this delay in responding has caused.
Yours sincerely

Theresa Bailey
Public Communications Unit

Your correspondence has been allocated the reference number
2009/0013321. To correspond by email with the Department for Innovation,
Universities and Skills please contact [1][DIUS request email].

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Communications via the GSi may be automatically logged, monitored and/or
recorded for legal purposes.

References

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1. mailto:[DIUS request email]

Dear Sir or Madam,
While I appreciate your apology (3rd March) for the delay in answering my query I feel obliged to remind you that you are currently in breach of the law under the FOI Act and that I am still waiting for your response.

Yours sincerely,

Ian Walker

Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills

Dear Mr Walker
In my e-mail to you of 3 March, I promised to get back to you with a
response to your request made under the Freedom of Information Act,
about MP's qualifications. I note you have also e-mailed on 11
March. Again I apologise for the delay in responding.

The Department for Innovation Universities and Skills (DIUS) has now
completed its search for the information which you requested. You asked
for an analysis of MP's with basic science qualifications (BSc level)
compared to the number who do not and what percentage of MP's have been
educated to Degree level in any discipline.

I have taken your request to have been sent to the DIUS, as the Department
has `Universities' in its remit. However DIUS does not directly oversee
the awarding of degree classification, nor does it house the current or
historical records of these centrally. We have completed our search and
have established that DIUS does not hold a record of MPs Qualifications,
generally, and nor does it hold details of the qualifications of Ministers
in any other Government Departments.

I can confirm, however, that the DIUS does hold centrally details of its
Ministers' degrees. The Secretary of State John Denham has a degree
qualification in Chemistry; Sion Simon MP and David Lammy were both
educated at degree level in non-science disciplines.

Additional information regarding other MPs, which may include details of
their degree disciplines, is available on the following websites:

- [1]www.theyworkforyou.com
- [2]www.epolitix.com
- Aristotle (politics.guardian.co.uk)
- VascherDod ([3]www.dodonline.co.uk/)
- The websites of the political parties and constituency websites

The information supplied to you continues to be protected by the
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. You are free to use it for your
own purposes, including any non-commercial research you are doing and for
the purposes of news reporting. Any other re-use, for example commercial
publication, would require the permission of the copyright holder. Most
information supplied by this Department will have been produced by
Government officials and will be Crown Copyright. You can find details on
the arrangements for re-using Crown Copyright on HMSO online at:
[4]www.hmso.gov.uk/copyright/licences/click-use-home.htm

If you have any queries about this e-mail, please contact me. Please
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If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your
request and wish to make a complaint or request a review of our decision,
you should write to me.

If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint, you may apply
directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. The address is:
The Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane,
Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF. Generally, the Information Commissioner's
Office cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted our complaints
procedure.
Yours sincerely

Theresa Bailey

Public Communications Unit

Your correspondence has been allocated the reference number
2009/0013321. To correspond by email with the Department for Innovation,
Universities and Skills please contact [5][DIUS request email]

show quoted sections

Communications via the GSi may be automatically logged, monitored and/or
recorded for legal purposes.

References

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2. file://www.epolitix.com/ofile:/www.epolitix.com
3. file://www.dodonline.co.uk/ofile:/www.dodonline.co.uk/
4. http://www.hmso.gov.uk/copyright/licence...
5. mailto:[DIUS request email]

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