Scientific Adviser's Branch

Records of the Scientific Adviser's Branch, which was responsible for advising all government departments concerned with civil defence, and advising other divisions of the Home Office on scientific matters generally.

Reports of the Branch are in HO 225 - HO 228 and its files are in HO 338 and HO 368. HO 229 contains Fission Fragments, the journal on civil defence matters issued to local authority scientific advisers.

• Home Office, Research and Scientific Department, 1970-1971
• Home Office, Scientific Advisers Branch, 1948-1970
• Home Office, Scientific Advisory Branch, 1971-1982
• Ministry of Home Security, Research and Experiments Department, 1940-1945
• Ministry of Works, Scientific Adviser's Division, 1945-1948

Topics

Nuclear energy

The Scientific Adviser's Branch of the Home Office was established in 1948, most of its staff being taken from the Scientific Advisor's Division of the Ministry of Works, which had itself originated in the Research and Experiments Department of the Ministry of Home Security. In 1970 its title changed to the Research and Scientific Department, in 1971 to the Scientific Advisory Branch, and in 1982 to the Scientific Research and Development Branch. It is responsible for advising all government departments concerned with civil defence and advising other divisions of the Home Office on scientific matters. It sponsors scientific research for the Home Office, liaises with Civil Defence Regional Scientific Advisers and Training Officers, assists in the training of Scientific Intelligence Officers, and develops computer projects relating to scientific research.