Main description:

*Penetration of normally inaccessible processes of government
*Close-grained empirical study of government-science interaction

*New conceptualisation of key processes and relationships

*Testing theories of science and government through detailed fieldwork

*Illumination of issues of concern to current research policymakers in many systems

Contents:

Abbreviations. Introduction. Part I: Government and Science. Relationships between Government and Science. Theories of Science and Science Policies. Theories and Practice of Government. Part II: The Commissioning System in Action. The DHSS and the Research Management System. Science and Macro Scientific Policy: the Case of the CSRC and the Intermediate Boards. The Chief Scientist's Prganisation and the Research Councils - the Case of the Panel on Medical Research and Relationships with the SSRC. Research Liaison Groups and the Small Grants Committee: Two Contrasting Systems. The Chief Scientist's Organisation and External Research Bases: the Case of the DHSS Research Units. Review of Units and Scientific Merit: Chief Scientist's Visits. Review of Units and Policy Relevance: the Customer Review. Part III: Emerging Processes and Roles. The Functions, Process and Impact of Research Commissioning. Emerging Roles. Policy after Rothschild and Generalisations. Appendix: Preface to the First Edition. Bibliography.