Our governance
The role, members, structure, meetings and subgroups of the Science Advisory Council (SAC).
The Science Advisory Council (SAC) provides independent advice on science policy and strategy to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
Membership
The SAC is formed of 11 independent senior academics. All appointments to the Science Advisory Council are made in accordance with the ‘Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies’. Vacancies are advertised on the Public Appointments website.
Members must declare any significant political activity and this is detailed in the register of interest.
Governance
At the beginning of each reporting year (April), the SAC Chair and Chief Scientific Advisor (CSA) will agree the key tasks and outcomes that the SAC will undertake to meet these objectives for the following year. This tasks and outcome document is maintained under review throughout the year.
The Science Minister acts as the lead minister overseeing SAC’s work and will meet the SAC Chair once a year.
SAC report to the CSA on a routine working basis, who in turn will report to the Defra Board on SAC activities. In addition, the CSA will report annually to the Network Executive Committee and to the Government CSA on SAC’s work, results and performance.
Role of the council in an emergency situation
In the event of an emergency, the council will act in accordance with Cabinet Office guidance on Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE). The role of the Council in an emergency situation is defined in a separate document (found on the SAC website), which is reviewed after each emergency situation and updated as necessary.
Ways of working
The Defra SAC operates in accordance with the Government Office for Science’s Code of Practice on Scientific Advisory Committees. The Defra SAC Handbook provides specific details on the SAC’s ways of working including (but not limited to):
- responsibilities of the chair and members
- register of interests, and conflicts of interest
- information about liability of members
- appointments and membership
- the role of the Council Secretariat
- subgroup formation and role
- communications (with media, public and ministers)
- how SAC outputs are formulated and presented
SAC handbook
The SAC handbook sets out the code of practice for Defra’s Science Advisory Council (SAC). Its purpose is to provide guidance on the establishment, management and activity of the SAC and its relationship with Defra.
Meetings
The SAC meet for principle meetings about 4 times a year and also hold regular teleconference meetings.
Previous SAC minutes and meeting papers can be found on the National Archives website.
Subgroups
The SAC establish time-limited subgroups in relation to emergencies, or to carry out in-depth studies and other pieces of work. The remit of subgroups will be determined by the SAC.
These will be chaired by a member of the SAC, who will be responsible for developing terms of reference for the subgroup. Subgroups may also include non-SAC members, co-opted on an ad hoc time-limited basis, to increase the range of expertise available.
Active groups
Social Science Expert Group
The Social Science Expert Group (SSEG) brings high quality external social science expertise to Defra group to complement existing capacity and to ensure social science can inform policy development, delivery and decision making. It aims to influence and improve Defra’s policies and their impact through the effective advice on and use of high-quality social science evidence.
The subgroup, chaired by SAC member Professor Susan Owens, meets 2 to 3 times a year and holds teleconferences throughout the year. Minutes are available upon request to science.advisory.council@defra.gov.uk.
Exotic and Emerging Animal Diseases (SAC-ED)
This subgroup advises Defra on using evidence and analysis to support exotic disease control, review the evidence and analysis supporting Defra’s disease control and recovery phase policies in the event of an exotic disease outbreak, and offer advice to the devolved administrations (DAs). Recent discussion topics have been:
- bird flu (avian influenza)
- coronavirus (COVID-19) in animals
- African swine fever
The subgroup is chaired by Professor Rowland Kao and meets to address an emergency situation and during the absence of a disease outbreak. Overall, it will respond to requests from the Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA) and the Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO).
Biodiversity Expert Committee
The Biodiversity Expert Committee (BEC) provides independent and expert advice, challenge and scientific support to Defra specialists and policy makers in matters related to biodiversity.
The subgroup is chaired by SAC member Rosie Hails.
The BEC holds quarterly meetings.
Retired groups
Biodiversity Target Advisory Group (BTAG)
The Biodiversity Target Advisory Group (BTAG) provided advice to Defra specialists developing the evidence base for legally-binding biodiversity targets.
BTAG’s minutes can be found on the National Archives website.
Foot and mouth disease burial sites review subgroup
A subgroup formed to review the scientific evidence underpinning the management of burial sites for carcasses from the 2001 foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak. Read the 2001 foot and mouth outbreak carcass burial report.
Information about earlier completed SAC subgroups is also available on the National Archives website.
Research and statistics
- Landscape quality: A rapid review of the evidence
- Recommendations to inform a UK ocean acidification monitoring strategy
Annual report and accounts
Defra’s Science Advisory Council’s annual reports and accounts