Volume 2: Science
Part 2: Commissioning and funding of research, 1986-96
Summary

6.37 In summary, Government Departments acted as 'customers', commissioning research from a range of 'contractors' including their own in-house laboratories (if they had such facilities), the Research Councils, universities and private sector Research Institutes. DH exercised its 'customer' role less formally than MAFF, ¹ through a process of consultation with the MRC governed by a Concordat. Departmental Chief Scientists played an important role in developing their Departments' ability to act as intelligent customers. Government research was overseen at a strategic level by the Chief Scientific Adviser and, at ministerial level, by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs. Oversight of the Research Councils, and of relations between them, Departments and other bodies, was exercised by a number of committees, with extensive cross-representation to facilitate the dissemination of information.