CAB129-35 — Page 168

Printed for the Cabinet. May 1949

CONFIDENTIAL

C.P. (49) 126

24th May, 1949

CABINET

Copy No. 31

·

SCIENTIFIC POLICY

NOTE BY THE PRIME MINISTER

I wish to remind my colleagues of the arrangements which have been made for making advice on scientific policy available to the Government.

2. The Advisory Council on Scientific Policy was set up in accordance with the recommendations in the second report of the Committee on Future Scientific Policy, dated 16th October, 1946, with the following terms of reference :-

CC

To advise the Lord President of the Council in the exercise of his responsibilities for the formulation and execution of Government scientific policy."

3. The Defence Research Policy Committee was set up by a decision of the Defence Committee at their meeting on 5th July, 1946 (D.O. (46) 21st Meeting, Minute 1), and its terms of reference were amended on the establishment of the Ministry of Defence to read :-

"To advise the Minister of Defence and the Chiefs of Staff on matters connected with the formulation of scientific policy in the defence field."

4. These two bodies are under the chairmanship of Sir Henry Tizard and both have done much useful work in securing the greater assistance of science in the solution of our civil and military problems. I would ask my colleagues to review the extent to which their Departments have availed themselves of this machinery and to take steps to ensure that policy matters having a scientific aspect, and especially all major questions of scientific organisation in Government, are referred whenever necessary for the advice of the appropriate one of these two scientific bodies. In any case of doubt Ministers ought not to hesitate to consult Sir Henry Tizard personally.

10 Downing Street, S.W.1,

24th May, 1949,

37079

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C. R. A.

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