The science behind the spin

Rumour has it that the House of Commons science and technology committee is planning a particularly scathing report about research at the Department for International Development.

Last week, Sir David King, the government's chief scientific adviser, gave them lots of extra rope. Sir David reportedly told the committee that the department had been far from inspirational in its approach. With no journalists present, he admitted that the DFID had not been doing good science.

Outside the committee room, however, his department seemed determined to whitewash the affair. In a statement issued after the meeting, Sir David says: "It is encouraging to see the responsive approach that is now being adopted [by the DFID]."