Coronavirus: SAGE membership revealed after criticism over transparency – Sky News, Sky.com
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The membership of the UK government scientific advisory group guiding coronavirus policy has been revealed after a list was published online.
Having previously refused to release the names of those on the scientific advisory group for emergencies (SAGE), the government has done so after weeks of pressure over a perceived lack of transparency around their meetings and recommendations.
Two members of the group have not given permission for their names to be revealed.
Number 20 had faced criticism when it emerged that Boris Johnson ‘s chief political adviser,
Dominic Cummings , had attended meetings of the group, although his name does not feature on the list.
Critics had claimed his presence risked allowing political concerns to dictate coronavirus policy, rather than scientific evidence.
Science and technology committee chair Greg Clark welcomes the publication, which came alongside an “explainer” of SAGE.
“I strongly welcome the commitment to transparency made by SAGE in publishing the names of the members,” the Conservative MP said.
“This was something my committee called for in order to provide public reassurance that government decisions are informed by a broad and substantial body of expert advice.”
(Concerns around transparency had prompted former government chief scientific adviser Sir David King to convene a separate “independent” panel of experts who were due to meet on Monday.
Professor David Salisbury, who oversaw vaccination policy during the swine flu pandemic a decade ago and Attended SAGE meetings, had told Sky News the government withholding of the names meant people were unable to judge their actions.
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