UK Covid-19 Inquiry - Module 2 report: Scottish Government response

Theme 1: Scientific and expert advice

The Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA) for Scotland is the Scottish Government’s most senior adviser on science issues affecting its work, across all policy areas. Dedicated science-related advice can also come from other advisers, including subject or portfolio specialists.

SAGE (Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies) is a UK Government body, brought into operation and chaired by the UK Government Chief Scientific Adviser. It is attended by the CSA for Scotland alongside other key Scottish Government advisers, depending on the emergency. In a public health emergency, this would include the Chief Medical Officer for Scotland, as the Scottish Government’s lead adviser for public health issues.

Recommendation 2 – Attendance of the devolved governments at SAGE meetings

Chair’s recommendation:

The Government Office for Science (GO-Science) should invite the governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to nominate a small number of representatives to attend meetings of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) from the outset of any future emergency. The status of those representatives as either ‘participant’ or ‘observer’ should depend upon their expertise and should be a matter for SAGE to determine.

Scottish Government response:

The Scottish Government welcomes this recommendation while recognising it is for UK Government (GO-Science) to implement.

Comments from CIREG reinforced the need for devolved voices to be embedded early and consistently in UK‑level scientific advice. Reflecting this, alongside work already undertaken with GO-Science to ensure the CSA for Scotland is an early attendee of any future stand-up of SAGE, the Scottish Government’s Office of the CSA has gained an agreement from GO-Science that the CSA for Scotland should be the lead initial Scottish Government attendee at SAGE, with the CMO and/or other colleagues also in attendance, depending on the emergency concerned.

The Scottish Government looks forward to continuing to work with colleagues in GO-Science to refine and agree updated arrangements for devolved governments attendance at SAGE. For the Scottish Government, this work will be led by the Office of the CSA.

Actions and Implementation timescales:

Discussion with GO-Science is ongoing; we understand GO-Science will finalise and publish updated SAGE guidance. As stated above, the CSA for Scotland will be the lead, initial Scottish Government attendee at SAGE, with other senior specialist science-related advisers engaged as appropriate, depending on the emergency.

Accountable Officer:

The Director General for Economy, working with the Office of the CSA within the Scottish Government, will be accountable for the implementation of the Scottish elements of this recommendation.

Recommendation 3 – Register of experts

Chair’s 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.

Scottish Government response:

The Scottish Government welcomes this recommendation while recognising it is for the UK Government to implement. We recognise the important role experts played during the pandemic and are committed to ensuring there is a broad range of experts in Scotland willing to participate in scientific advisory groups in future potential civil emergencies.

To ensure the register of experts would deliver the relevant expertise required for Scotland in future civil emergencies, the Scottish Government is working with colleagues in GO-Science to suggest topic experts in Scotland to be considered for membership of the register, ensuring this covers a wide range of emergency situations. For the Scottish Government, this work is being led by the Office of the CSA.

Actions and Implementation timescales:

Discussion will take place between the CSA for Scotland and other science advisers, as well as with the Scottish Science Advisory Council and organisations working to improve diversity in science, to identify potential experts across a range of subjects.

A list of proposed individuals will be shared with, and discussed with, GO-Science by 31 August 2026, taking into account their published guidance. There will be an annual refresh of this process thereafter.

Accountable Officer:

The Director General for Economy, working with the Office of the CSA within the Scottish Government, will be accountable for the implementation of the Scottish elements of this recommendation.

Recommendation 5 – Support to participants in advisory groups

Chair’s recommendation:

The Government Office for Science (GO-Science), the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government and the Department of Health (Northern Ireland) should each develop standard terms of appointment for all participants in scientific advisory groups. These terms should include:

• clarity around the nature of an individual’s role and the extent of their responsibility, as well as the likely time commitment
• payment where their time commitment means that they have to spend time away from their substantive role
• access to support services
• access to advice on personal and online security, with procedures for escalating specific concerns

Scottish Government response:

The Scottish Government accepts this recommendation, acknowledging the commitment and contribution of all members of the Scottish Government Covid-19 Advisory Group and other advisory groups, including those individuals already seconded to the Scottish Government as senior scientific advisers.

Developing a more standardised, equitable and transparent approach to terms, conditions and support for all academic and expert advisers invited to scientific advisory groups, including those called in response to emergencies, would provide these expert advisers with consistency and clearer expectations of the implications of advising governments during an emergency. This approach was supported by feedback in discussions with CIREG.

Scientific advisory groups should provide clear, accessible scientific advice that can be readily understood by nontechnical audiences. During emergencies, additional advisory groups are also likely to contribute advice on how the Scottish Government should translate scientific evidence into operational or implementation guidance, taking account of how decisions may affect different groups of people.

These advisory groups may include experts with a wide range of professional backgrounds, lived experience, and representatives of stakeholder communities with shared interests or characteristics. To support all contributors effectively, the Scottish Government will set out principles within guidance for scientific advisory groups. This guidance will help ensure everyone who offers their time, expertise, and insight during emergencies is recognised appropriately for their contributions.

For the Scottish Government, this work will be led by the Office of the CSA, taking account of the experience of colleagues and expert advisers during the pandemic, the inquiry period, and other emergency activations, to ensure an improved offer of support across a number of areas. We will work closely with colleagues in GO-Science and the other devolved governments to help ensure a consistent approach.

Actions and Implementation timescales:

Discussion with Scottish Government science advisers (including members of previous advisory groups as well as colleagues in GO-Science and in Wales and Northern Ireland) will take place over 2026, with a view to further advice being developed for Scottish Ministers by 31 January 2027.

Accountable Officer:

The Director General for Economy working with the Office of the CSA within the Scottish Government will be accountable for the implementation of the Scottish elements of this recommendation.