Science and Government

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THE second annual luncheon of the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee, held on February 11, was attended by several members of both Houses of Parliament, including three Cabinet ministers, and by representatives of the associated scientific bodies. In an address on the organization of scientific effort in Great Britain, Sir John Anderson, Lord President of the Council, who has now become responsible for the Government's scientific services, recalled that Sir Stafford Cripps had already outlined the existing arrangements for scientific research and development in his address on January 30 before the conference on “Planning of Science : in War and in Peace” (see NATURE, February 6, p. 152). Sir John devoted himself therefore to the general principles which he believes should govern such arrangements. He believes that four main conditions must be satisfied : the organization must be an integral part of the Government machine ; it should maintain contact with outside scientific bodies ; it must not cut across normal ministerial responsibilities ; and it must be linked up with a minister who is in a position to see that extra-departmental considerations are not neglected. The present organization of scientific effort, with the scientific advisers to the Ministry of Supply, the Scientific and Engineering Advisory Committees and so on, is, in Sir John Anderson's opinion, meeting these requirements tolerably well, and will provide a good basis on which to build up the type of organization required for the post-war world. Sir Robert Robinson spoke on the importance of the international control of explosives. As all the explosives in use by armed forces depend on the supply of nitrates, he urged the control of synthetic nitrate and similar plants as a measure for ensuring that aggressor nations shall not resort to war.