General Principles for Science Reviews
The reviews of each government department's science:
- are external and independent;
- focus on the quality and use of science;
- are published;
- reflect departmental diversity. No two departments are alike. A 'one size fits all' approach is therefore inappropriate and the Science Review will be tailored accordingly;
- add value by identifying and sharing best practice across government departments. In so doing departments have the opportunity to become more effective in their work; and,
- are responded to. Departments are expected to report on how the Science Review's recommendations are being implemented or to justify their reasons for not doing so.
The Science Reviews do not:
- duplicate the work of other existing internal or external reviews;
- require additional documentary evidence beyond what is already available;
- be disproportionate to the extent of a department's science activities;
- attempt to advise or tell departments what should or should not be part of their science strategy or programme; or,
aim to apportion blame.