Science in Parliament

I have been searching around for details of the degree subjects of Members of Parliament. Especially science degrees. Here are some resources:

The Social Background of MPs notes that about 75% of MPs have degrees, 25% have degrees from Oxbridge and about 33% went to private schools.

Dr Phillip Lee's Blog, Dr Lee is a conservative Member of Parliament who notes that whilst over half the Cabinet have philosophy, politics, economics and history degrees only 1 has a science degree (this member has now left).

To discover the exact answer I would need to be a registered member of a Westminster Parliamentary Record website. Fortunately someone has already done this and found that of 617 Members of Parliament 27 have science or technology degrees.

So of the approximately 462 MPs who have degrees 6% have science degrees (If maths, engineering and medicine are included this figure is near 11%). Some 44% of all full time degree enrollments are in science subjects.

There is obviously a process of attrition of scientifically trained people (I use the term "scientifically trained" because only half or less of those with science degrees become scientists). Only a seventh as many science trained people get selected to be MPs as non-scientists and those with science degrees are only a seventh as likely as their colleagues to get to Cabinet. If such discrimination were occurring on the basis of skin colour or sex there would be a national scandal.

Part of the reason for the attrition of the scientifically trained should be obvious to anyone who has ever been involved in public service. Scientists find it difficult to reject the truth. This causes friction because it becomes impossible to trade off the false and absurd plans of one politician to buy progress for the false plans of another politician.

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