ID card scrutiny under threat
Updated on 13 July 2007
The influential science and technology committee is still waiting to hear whether Gordon Brown's government overhaul has left it on the scrap heap.
The committee - which is responsible for scrutinising plans for ID cards and other key policies - has been left in limbo after the downsizing of the Office for Science and Innovation.
The committee's chairman, Phil Willis, told Channel 4 News online this morning: "The matter is still with the chief whip and we are awaiting a decision.
"The matter has to be resolved by next Tuesday at the latest - in order to get the relevant orders through Parliament.
"I don't think this is a deliberate act by the government. I just think it is a cock-up. I am still optimistic that the committee will be maintained."
'I don't think its deliberate. I just think it is a cock-up. I am still optimistic that the committee will be maintained.'Phil Willis
The office for science and innovation was subsumed into the department for innovation, universities and skills by Brown's reshuffle, with its staff no longer forming a distinct unit within government.
The Royal Society - a key player in UK science - has been among the critics of the possible demise of the committee.
Liberal Democrat MP Mr Willis added: "If the committee does go it would fly in the face of where this government says it is trying to go.
"Issues such as climate change and renewable energy are at the heart of government policy now and our committee would be key to its scrutiny.
Mr Willis added that should the committee by scrapped, important current work into marine science, renewable energy and late terminations would be lost."
