Policy paper

The scientific response to terrorism: response to eighth report of the Science and Technology Committee

The government response to the eighth report from the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee (session 2002 to 2003, HC 415).

This was published under the 2001 to 2005 Labour government

Documents

The scientific response to terrorism: government response to eighth report of the Science and Technology Committee

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Details

On 19 December 2002 the House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee announced its intention to conduct an inquiry into the government’s scientific response to terrorism. The committee wanted to:

  • examine how UK science is contributing to the country’s defence against terrorist attacks
  • what research is being undertaken
  • how this research is coordinated
  • how it is being harnessed to protect the UK population from terrorist attacks

The government submitted a cross-department memorandum for the committee’s consideration in February 2003. The Committee took 6 sessions of oral evidence between February 2003 and June 2003. Some of the evidence was submitted in private sessions or as confidential memoranda, due to its sensitive nature. Beverley Hughes, the Home Office Minister for Counter-Terrorism, appeared before the committee on 30 June 2003.

The committee published its final report on 6 November 2003. The response addresses the committee’s recommendations and conclusions in turn.

Published 22 January 2004