IUSSC report suggests Government engineering expertise lacking

So says Engineering: turning ideas into reality, a recently published House Of Commons Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee (IUSSC) report which, in recognising that the Government should “adopt a practice of formulating and following roadmaps for each major engineering programme”, recommends the appointment of both a chief scientific adviser and a chief engineer. Eighteen months ago the select committee launched an enquiry into the “current state of the UK engineering sector”. Last summer it held a Westminster session to hear evidence from expert bodies, with IHEEM CEO John Long among those drafting written evidence (HEJ – August 2008). Several subsequent months gathering “evidence” culminated in the report’s 27 March publication. The 135-page document concludes that the Government is “failing to seek timely engineering advice, and “lacks detailed strategic planning for engineering policy”. It argues for more trained and experienced engineers “at all levels of the civil service”. The Committee admits to having been “shocked to discover that engineering advice was absent, or barely featured”, in the formulation of key Government policies. Engineering advice should, in its view, “be sought early, before policy is agreed”. It also advocates prioritisation of training “to ensure civil servants know when to seek engineering advice”, and more efficient cross-departmental management of engineering policy. While dubbing the Engineering Council UK (ECUK)’s professional registration process for engineers “one of the profession’s key strengths”, it recommends that Government and professional engineering institutions “join with ECUK in promoting a stronger understanding” of the three registration categories: Engineering Technician (EngTech), Incorporated Engineer (IEng), and Chartered Engineer (CEng). Committee chairman, and Harrogate & Knaresborough MP, Phil Willis said: “Engineering is one of the UK’s great strengths. While we’ve been critical about aspects of Government policy and called for significant changes, we should not forget the positives. Our engineering research base is one of the world’s best, and our engineers continue to be sought after to lead on prestigious global projects.”