This may be of interest to list members. Apologies for cross posting.
Karl Wilding
Head of Research, NCVO
Cabinet Office appoints Head of Government researchers
Wed, 18 Sep 02 Government Press Release
Summary
The Cabinet Office has announced the appointment of Sue Duncan to lead the
profession of government social researchers as head of the Government Social
Research Service.
Currently Director of Policy Studies in the Strategy Unit, Sue Duncan
will take on new duties including:
- Overall responsibility for the quality and standards of government
social research;
- Liaison between Government and the wider research community;
Contents
CABINET OFFICE
18th September 2002 CAB 083/02
SUE DUNCAN NAMED FIRST GOVERNMENT CHIEF SOCIAL RESEARCHER
Sue Duncan has been appointed to lead the profession of government
social researchers as head of the Government Social Research Service.
The decision to create the post of Government Chief Social Research
Officer has been driven by the Government's commitment to develop and
implement policies informed by sound evidence.
Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service, Sir Andrew Turnbull,
explained:
'Good research underpins effective decision making. The Government
places great importance on strengthening the base of evidence on
which policies are developed, implemented, and evaluated.'
Currently Director of Policy Studies in the Strategy Unit, Sue Duncan
will take on:
- Overall responsibility for the quality and standards of government
social research;
- Liaison between Government and the wider research community;
- Co-ordination of research planning across government Departments;
and
- Working with other government analysts to ensure a co-ordinated
approach and more effective use of analytical skills.
Sue Duncan said:
'I am looking forward to making a greater contribution to improving
policy making and strategic skills. These are exciting and
challenging times for government research and this new role puts me
in the ideal position to work with researchers and analysts inside
and outside government to maximise their input to policy development
and review'.
Notes to editors:
1. Sue Duncan has over 23 years government research experience in the
areas of housing and social security. Prior to this she worked in
local government. She has a Sociology degree (University of Bath) and
an MA in Sociological Studies (University of Sussex). A Full member
of the Market Research Society and an academician of the Academy of
Learned Societies for the Social Sciences, she serves on various
committees including: Commission on Social Sciences; Economic and
Social Research Council Research Evaluation Committee; Advisory
Committee for ESRC Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion (Chair);
UK Strategic Forum on Social Sciences; University of Bath Humanities
and Social Sciences Faculty Board; Editorial Board of 'Policy and
Politics'; University of Surrey's Department of Sociology Advisory
Committee.
2. Sue Duncan will take on the role of Government Chief Social
Research Officer with immediate effect, and continue in her role as
Director of Policy Studies, Strategy Unit. Led by Geoff Mulgan, the
Strategy Unit exists to provide the Prime Minister and Government
departments with a capacity to look creatively at long term issues
and to promote strategic thinking and improved policy making across
government.
3. Creation of the Government Chief Social Research Officer role
builds on recommendations in a number of government reports and
papers including the Modernising Government White Paper, the
Professional Policy Making in the 21st Century report, the Better
Policy Making report and the Performance and Innovation Unit report
'Adding It Up'.
4. The scope of the role will develop to include:
- Oversight of:
- Career development and training for social researchers
- Professional and ethical issues for social research and for
policy issues, such as publication of research
- Quality and standards in government social research
- Spokesman and representative for government social research at
the centre and lead on liaison with the external research
community
- Lead on co-ordination of research planning across Departments
- Lead on innovation and change within Government Social Research
- Liaison with other key analytical professions (eg. economists,
statisticians) to ensure a co-ordinated approach and most
effective use of analytical skills
|