CONTENTS Summary statement on civilian scientific research in the United Kingdom.. Recent changes in the organization of the DSIR Page 140 140 141 143 144 145 IN THE UNITED KINGDOM 1 SUMMARY STATEMENT ON CIVILIAN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH IN THE UNITED KINGDOM Civilian scientific research in the United Kingdom is carried on in many branches of the Government. The table reproduced below which lists Government expenditure on civil research (excluding research by defense departments except as indicated) shows the extent of the dispersal: 2 Government expenditure on civil research (excluding research by Defense Departments other than as shown) [In thousands of British pounds (£'s) 1956-57 (estimate)] A. Agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and food: (i) Agriculture.. (ii) Fisheries.. (iii) Agricultural Research Council. (iv) Development Fund.. (v) Nature Conservancy.. (vi) Forestry Commission.. B. Industry and communications: (i) Department of Scientific and Industrial Research.. (iii) Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation.... (v) Board of Trade (ex Ministry of Materials). 11, 922 590 3,470 363 280 2248 6, 783 27, 352 889 279 660 13 C. Medical and health: (i) Health Departments.. (ii) Medical Research Council.. (iii) General Register Office... $2,351 11, 544 82 22, 262 43 303 2,690 F. Grants to learned societies and for other scientific societies.... Grand total... 66 345 289 700 234 23, 577 1 Agriculture and food. 2 Adjusted for economy cuts in 1956-57 estimates: Excludes expenditure on civil-defense projects. Capital expenditure on new buildings for DSIR and other research establishments. 1 The Stanford Research Institute prepared in 1952 booklets on the Organization of Industrial Research in Italy and Austria. Data_taken from Appendix III, Government Expenditure on Civil Research (excluding research by Defense Departments other than as shown), from Ninth Annual Report of the Advisory Council on Scientific Policy (1955-56), London: H. M. S. O., November 1956, 12 p. Cmnd 11. At p. 11. From the above table it will be noted that the largest single expenditures for research, excluding capital expenditure, are those of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, the Agricultural Research Council, and the Medical Research Council. These three main organizations serve the Government as a whole. The Lord President of the Council is the Minister responsible for these three organizations, and for the formulation and execution of Government scientific policy on matters which relate to the whole field of civil science. He is advised by an Advisory Council on Scientific Policy. Research related to specific and practical problems is done by or under the auspices of particular Government departments, and the Ministers of the departments are responsible for the scientific establishments within their own departments. A pictorial review of all scientific research in Great Britain is contained on the composite organization chart, at page 183 (Vol. II), of the Organisation of Applied Research in Europe, the United States, and Canada published by the Organisation for European Economic Cooperation (1954). 3 3 ESTABLISHMENT OF THE DEpartment of SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH 4 It was during the First World War that the importance of scientific research and of the application of scientific knowledge to trade and industry was recognized, and in 1916 the Government founded the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. An Advisory Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, composed of eminent scientists and leading industrialists, two members closely connected with organized labor, and assessors appointed by Government departments, was formed to advise the Lord President of the Council concerning the department. The objectives of the DSIR have been defined as follows: 5 (i) To insure that the applied scientific research carried out by the Department is at all times related to the economic problems confronting this country, and that the scientific resources of the Department are applied to those problems the solution of which would most assist the national economy. (ii) To insure that the resources of the Department are used so as to make the maximum contribution to improving the efficiency of industry, particularly in relation to productivity, new products and new processes. (iii) Without subtracting from the responsibilities of production departments and nationalized industries for development, the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research should exert its maximum influence in securing the effective application of the results of its researches. These objectives have been translated into three main groups of activities, each of which is described below: (i) Scientific research in the national interest, and to meet the needs of Government departments, 1 On file with committee. 4 Much of the background information on DSIR is drawn from the publication, Government Scientific Organization in the Civilian Field, by the Advisory Council on Scientific Policy, London, H. M. S. O., July 1951, 47 p. This review covers the period 1900-1950. Third Annual Report of the Advisory Council on Scientific Policy (1949-50), Cmd. 7992. London H. M. 8. O., 1950. 17 p. At p. 8. |