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A committee of MPs has warned government that the future of the scrutiny of science is at risk following the merger of two major departments.
The prime minister took the decision to merge the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills with the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform in the latest reshuffle.
But the Commons innovation, universities, science and skills committee urged the government to establish a separate Commons science and technology committee to uphold the scrutiny of science policy.
A report published on Friday called on the leader of the House to bring forward the necessary standing order changes and allow the House to decide on the matter.
Committee chairman Phil Willis stated that despite reassurances from ministers of the importance of science in government planning and policy, science could be lost in a "black hole" of the new "all-encompassing super-department".
"The desire to exploit the UK's world class science base in order to contribute to economic recovery is commendable, valid and not in dispute," Willis stated.
"Establishing a science and technology committee is critical both to reassure the science community that proper examination of science and engineering across government remains a priority, and to ensure MPs have an effective and transparent arena in which to hold the government's science policy to account."
Director for the Campaign for Science and Engineering, Nick Dusic, welcomed the report and said that the abolition of the science and technology committee had been a mistake that the government "should rectify".
He added: "Letting Parliament re-establish the science and technology committee would show that it is handing power back to the House of Commons."
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