SCI Files
Minutes of a Meeting of the Combined Policy Committee
| Present: | |
| Members: | The Secretary of War, Chairman |
| The Rt. Hon. Earl of Halifax | |
| Field Marshal Sir Henry Maitland Wilson | |
| Dr. Vannevar Bush | |
| By Invitation: | The Canadian Ambassador, Mr. L. B. Pearson (representing the Hon. C. D. Howe) |
| Sir James Chadwick | |
| Mr. George Harrison | |
| Mr. Benjamin Cohen94 (representing the Secretary of State) | |
| Joint Secretaries: | Major General L. R. Groves |
| Mr. Roger Makins |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
X. Research and development in the United Kingdom.
Lord Halifax said that he had been asked by the Prime Minister to inform the Committee that the British Government propose to set up a Research Establishment in the United Kingdom to deal with all aspects of atomic energy. This establishment will include a pile to provide material for research and development.
At the same time, some internal reorganization has taken place in the United Kingdom. The responsibility for the research establishment [Page 58] will rest with the Minister of Supply.95 The Prime Minister will continue to exercise general supervision over all aspects of policy on the use of atomic energy, and the Advisory Committee under Sir John Anderson, will report to him as at present.
The British Government is also considering what they should do in regard to large-scale plants for the production of fissile material, but have not yet come to any conclusions on this matter.
These steps will enable the British Government to play their part in any common plan for the development of atomic energy.
The Committee: Took note of this statement.
Mr. Harrison said that he assumed that the decision to set up a pile would result in a request by the British members for some modification of the present allocation of raw materials which had been approved by the Combined Policy Committee.96 He asked whether it was desired to discuss the point at its present meeting.
Sir James Chadwick said that it was premature to raise this question before His Majesty’s Government had decided their general policy in regard to production of material.
The Committee then adjourned.
Roger Makins