Home Office Science Advisory Committee: Renaming

Sarah Jones Excerpts

Tuesday 16th September 2025 Written Statements

[The Minister for Policing and Crime (Sarah Jones)]

The Minister of State at the Home Office, my noble Friend Lord Hanson of Flint, has today made the following written ministerial statement:

I am pleased to announce the formal name change of the Biometrics and Forensics Ethics Group to the Science and Technology Ethics Advisory Committee.

The name change has sought to accurately encompass the full remit of this scientific advisory group, which works to provide Ministers with independent advice on matters relating to broad ethical issues in science, technology and data.

I would like to thank the group for its ongoing advice across many sectors of the Home Office, and I am pleased that this name change reflects both the breadth and depth of expertise held by all the members of the group. Continuous support has been provided to the Government by our members in matters ranging from the national DNA database to ethical advice on using large datasets and machine learning.

For a list of publications and information regarding the ongoing advice that this group provides, please see its website:

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/science-and-technology-ethics-advisory-committee

[HCWS929]