If the UK government makes policy decisions that contradict recommendations from its science advisers, it should make clear why it has done so, politicians exhorted last week.

In a 23 July report on the use of science in government, the country's Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee said that chief science advisers should challenge the government to publicly acknowledge when policies are not based on evidence.

Committee members also called for prime minister Gordon Brown to strengthen the role of scientific advice in government policies. They recommended that he create a permanent office for science in the cabinet office — where it would be closer to the heart of government policy-making, and have direct access to ministers.