Cabinet: Committee of Civil Research, later Economic Advisory Council and Sub-committees:...

CAB 58

1925-1939

This series comprises the records of the Civil Research Committee and the Economic Advisory Council. It includes minutes and memoranda of the Committee and the Council, together with those of the standing Sub-Committees and ad hoc Committees formed during their existence between 1925-1939.

Chronological within original subject classification

For records of the Anti-Locust Research Centre and predecessors, see AY 11

CR and EAC file series

Public Record(s)

English

• Cabinet, Committee of Civil Research, 1925-1930
• Cabinet, Economic Advisory Council, 1930-1939

208 volume(s)

From 1967 Cabinet Office

1925-1930

No future accruals expected

The Committee for Civil Research was set up by Treasury minute of 13 June 1925 as a standing Committee reporting to Cabinet, analogous in principle to the Committee of Imperial Defence. Its brief was 'the duty of giving connected forethought from a central standpoint to the development of economic, scientific and statistical research in relation to civil policy and administration, with responsibility for defining new areas in which enquiry would be of value.' Its role was purely advisory, and it operated without a fixed membership. The Prime Minister was chairman. Special sub-committees dealt with particular topics; two of these, on tsetse fly and locust control, became practically independent and lasted to 1939.

In January 1930 the new Labour Government established the Economic Advisory Council which took over and expanded the functions of the Committee of Civil Research. The Council included both ministers and outside experts, charged with advising the government on economic subjects. It had the right to initiate inquiries into, and advise upon, any subject falling within its scope, including proposals for legislation with the approval of the Prime Minister as chairman. It was not however to interfere with the existing functions and responsibilities of Ministers and Departments. Some of the sub-committees of the Civil Research Committee continued to function under the Economic Advisory Council.

In January 1932, the Prime Minister recommended that EAC meet less often, with the bulk of work to be carried out by new Council Committees with specific terms of reference. Indeed the Council did not meet again after this date and its work was entirely undertaken by committees and sub-committees. Scientific functions were conducted by the Standing Committee of Scientific Research (appointed April 1932 and meeting until 1938) and economic functions by a Standing Committee on Economic Information (appointed September 1931 and lasting to 1939).

The Economic Advisory Council was formally wound up in 1939.