Bill Stow explains how it works at Defra

Defra’s environmental policies depend on our understanding of the science, economics and social science behind complex questions of public policy, such as climate change, or air and water pollution.

We obtain advice from research, expert advisory committees and public consultation. The scientists and economists within our policy teams interpret evidence for their colleagues and Ministers. They form networks with others in their field and are often renowned experts. Our Chief Scientific Adviser also challenges and provides independent and top-level advice. He ensures rigorous peer review and quality assurance, and is assisted by an independent Science Advisory Council from a range of disciplines.

Need for engagement

At the heart of this are two related needs: first to assess, manage and engage with the public on risk, and second to influence public and business behaviour to adopt more sustainable behaviour. Without confidence in our ability to do the first, there will be little trust in what government says about the second. We have a powerful regulatory framework for managing ‘classic’ sources of environmental pollution, at the centre of which is risk-based enforcement. We also tackle much more diffuse sources of environmental impact: how we travel, heat our homes, and what we eat.

This means we have to engage the public as never before.

Methods

Transparency is a first step. Open meetings of Advisory Committees, published minutes, publishing the research behind policy – all well embedded in Defra practice – open up the possibility of challenge. Lay expertise on Advisory Committees offers a chance to challenge disciplinary thinking.

We also need to go beyond traditional forms of consultation into genuine engagement with the public. The GM Nation? debate and the work of the independent Committee on Radioactive Waste Management have been innovative attempts by Defra to do this.

Making Decisions

Government is a messy business. We need many sources of advice. We usually have to deal with uncertainty and ambiguous evidence: there is rarely one ‘right’ answer. Ministers’ political judgement and engagement with the public plays a key role in decision-making.

Nor does government live in an ivory tower, hoovering up evidence and following where it may lead. Of course, Ministers will have a view on what is important, and not just be driven by evidence in a narrow sense. And they have to take decisions; they cannot always wait until all the evidence is in, full public engagement has occurred, and a tidy, well-supported path emerges. Wouldn’t it be boring if they did?

Bill Stow is Director General Environment at Defra: the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs