Background
The United Kingdom Government recognised in the early 1960s that there were a number of agencies responsible for conducting civil scientific research, yet these were fragmented and responsibilities were divided. These agencies had been established over the past 50 years and varied in status, scope and autonomy. The Government believed that the modernisation of British industry, and the revitalisation of the economy through science and technology, could not be implemented effectively under these arrangements. In March 1962 the Government appointed a Committee of Inquiry chaired by Sir Burke Trend to examine whether any, and what, changes in the arrangements were desirable; the relative importance of the national interest for the promotion of civil scientific research; and the methods of financing of these agencies. The Committee reported in October 1963.UK Parliament, ''Committee of Inquiry into the Organization of Civil Science'' Cmnd. 2171, 1963 It recommended disbanding the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (established 1915) and its Council and distributing their functions to three new agencies. These were to be: the Science Research Council, the Natural Resources Research Council, and the Industrial Research and Development Authority. The Trend Committee identified that the Medical Research Council (1913), theScience and Technology Act 1965
The Science and Technology Act (1965 c. 4) receivedProvisions
The Act comprises 7 Sections and 4 Schedules. * Section 1. The Research Councils. The Research Councils shall be the Agricultural Research Council and the Medical Research Council; and two bodies to be established: the Science Research Council and the Natural Environment Research Council; the roles of these bodies. * Section 2. Expenses, accounts etc. of Research Councils. The Secretary of State may pay the Research Councils out of money provided by Parliament. * Section 3. Re-allocation of activities connected with scientific research. The Department of Scientific and Industrial Research shall be dissolved and its functions taken over by an appropriate Research Council; the National Institute for Research in Nuclear Science shall be taken over by the Science Research Council; the activities of the Nature Conservancy and the National Oceanographic Council shall be taken over by the Natural Environment Research Council. * Section 4. Extension of research functions of Atomic Energy Authority. Functions shall include the undertaking of scientific research in matters not connected with atomic energy. * Section 5. Further powers of Secretary of State and Minister of Technology. The Secretary of State and the Minister of Technology may defray out of moneys provided by Parliament any expenses which, with the consent of the Treasury, they may incur. * Section 6. Supplementary. Defines ‘scientific research’, and amends the legislation specified in Schedule 4. * Section 7. Short title. Schedules * Schedule 1. Reports, Accounts etc. of Research Councils. Keeping and submission of accounts to the Minister and Secretary of State. * Schedule 2. Minor and consequential Amendments. Minor legislative amendments. * Schedule 3. Transitional Provisions on Redistribution of Activities of existing Organisations. Transfer of all property, rights, liabilities and obligations on an agreed transfer date. * Schedule 4. Repeals. Repeal of legislation.Aftermath
The Agricultural Research Council (ARC) was reformed as the Agricultural and Food Research Council (AFRC) in 1983, which became part of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) in 1994. The Science Research Council (SRC) became theReferences
{{reflist Innovation in the United Kingdom 1965 in the United Kingdom Law of the United Kingdom United Kingdom Acts of Parliament 1965