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This version of this statute is extracted from the UK Statute Law Database (SLD). It is not necessarily in the form in which it was originally enacted but is a revised version, which means that any subsequent amendments to the text and other effects are incorporated with annotations.
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An Act to make further provision with respect to the responsibility and powers in relation to scientific research and related matters of the Secretary of State, the Minister of Technology and certain chartered bodies and other organisations, and for purposes connected therewith.
[23rd March 1965]
(1)The following bodies established or to be established by Royal Charter shall be Research Councils for the purposes of this Act, that is to say,—
(a)F1. . .the Medical Research Council; and
(b)if Her Majesty is pleased to establish such a body, each of the two bodies respectively referred to in this Act as the Science Research Council and the Natural Environment Research Council; and
(c)any other body which is established for purposes connected with scientific research and consists of persons appointed by a Minister of the Crown and which is declared by Order in Council to be established as a Research Council for purposes of this Act.
(2)The Science Research Council shall be a body established wholly or mainly for objects consisting of or comprised in the following, namely, the carrying out of scientific research, the facilitating, encouragement and support of scientific research by other bodies or persons or any description of bodies or persons and of instruction in the sciences and technology, and the dissemination of knowledge in the sciences and technology.
(3)The Natural Environment Research Council shall be a body established wholly or mainly for objects consisting of or comprised in the following, namely, the carrying out of research in the earth sciences and ecology, the facilitating, encouragement and support of such research by other bodies or persons or any description of bodies or persons and of instruction in subjects related to the Council’s activities, the dissemination of knowledge in the earth sciences and ecology, the provision of advice on matters related to the Council’s activities, . . . . . . F2
(4)No recommendation shall be made to Her Majesty to make an Order in Council declaring a body to be a Research Council under subsection (1)(c) above unless a draft of the Order, specifying the objects or principal objects of that body, has been laid before Parliament and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.
F1Words in s. 1(1)(a) repealed (19.11.1998) by 1998 c. 43, S. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. X, Group 4
F2Words repealed by Nature Conservancy Council Act 1973 (c. 54), Sch. 4
(1)The [F1Secretary of State] may, out of moneys provided by Parliament, pay to any of the Research Councils such sums in respect of the expenses of the Council as he may with the consent of the Treasury determine, and so far as relates to the use and expenditure of sums so paid the Council shall act in accordance with such directions as may from time to time be given to it by the Secretary of State.
(2)The provisions of Schedule 1 to this Act shall have effect with respect to the making of returns and reports by the Research Councils to the [F1Secretary of State], with respect to the keeping and auditing of their accounts and with respect to related matters.
(3)Land occupied in the United Kingdom by any of the Research Councils shall be deemed, for the purposes of any rate on property, to be property occupied by or on behalf of the Crown for public purposes.
(4)The obligations of the Medical Research Council F2. . . under this section in relation to the [F1Secretary of State] shall be in place of any corresponding obligations imposed on [F3the Council] by its charter or otherwise F2. . .; and subject to the foregoing provisions of this subsection anything which under the charter of [F3the Council] is to be done by or to a committee of the Privy Council shall instead be done by or to the [F1Secretary of State].
(5)Nothing in this Act or in any other enactment relating to the general functions of any of the Research Councils shall be taken as restricting the activities of a Research Council to the United Kingdom or any part thereof, nor shall the expenses in respect of which payments may be made under subsection (1) above be restricted to expenses incurred in the United Kingdom; but, in the case of Research Councils other than F4. . . the Medical Research Council, the expenses of the Council in respect of which payments may be so made shall not include any expenses in so far as they may be incurred for objects falling outside the objects specified in relation to the Council in section 1(2) or (3) above or in the Order in Council declaring it to be a Research Council.
F1Words in s. 2(1)(2)(4) substituted (1.1.1996) by S.I. 1995/2985, art. 5(1), Sch. para. 1(1)
F2Words in s. 2(4) repealed (19.11.1998) by 1998 c. 43, s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. X, Group 4
F3Words in s. 2(4) substituted (19.11.1998) by 1998 c. 43, s. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 11
F4Words in s. 2(5) repealed (19.11.1998) by 1998 c.43, s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. X, Group 4
C1S.2: Functions of the Secretary of State transferred (6.7.1992) by S.I. 1992/1296, arts. 2(1),3
(1)The activities of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research shall be taken over between them by such of the Research Councils as are concerned with the matters in question or by other government departments, and accordingly the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research will be dissolved.
(2)The activities of the National Institute for Research in Nuclear Science shall be taken over by the Science Research Council.
[F1(3) The Natural Environment Research Council shall carry on the former activities of the National Oceanographic Council.]
(4). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F2
(5)The enactments mentioned in Schedule 2 to this Act shall have effect subject to the provisions set out in that Schedule (being provisions making minor or consequential amendments in connection with the operation of this and the foregoing sections); and the provisions of Schedule 3 to this Act shall have effect for transitional purposes connected with this section.
(6)Where any activities of a Research Council or government department in relation to scientific research are to be taken over from it (otherwise than under this section) by any Research Council or government department, then on the transfer accordingly of responsibility for those activities the [F3Secretary of State] may by order made by statutory instrument transfer or provide for transferring property, rights, liabilities or obligations held, acquired or incurred in connection with the carrying on of the activities previously by any Research Council or government department; and a Research Council shall comply with any directions of the [F3Secretary of State] requiring it to take over from, or transfer to, any Research Council or government department the responsibility for any activities in relation to scientific research.
(7)On any such transfer of responsibility as is mentioned in subsection (6) above the [F3Secretary of State] may by order made by statutory instrument provide, so far as appears to him necessary or expedient for giving full effect to the transfer, for the repeal or amendment of any provision in any enactment affecting a Research Council or government department concerned, and make transitional, supplemental or incidental provision in connection with any such repeal or amendment; but the statutory instrument shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
(8)The provisions of this section, except subsections (6) and (7), shall not come into force until such day as Her Majesty may by Order in Council appoint, and different days may be appointed for different provisions or for different purposes of the same provision.
F1S. 3(3) substituted by Nature Conservancy Council Act 1973 (c. 54), Sch. 2 para. 2
F2S. 3(4) repealed by Nature Conservancy Council Act 1973 (c. 54), Sch. 4
F3Words in s. 3(6)(7) substituted (1.1.1996) by S.I. 1995/2985, art. 5(1), Sch. para. 1(1)
C1S. 3: Functions of the Secretary of State transferred (6.7.1992) by S.I. 1992/1296, arts. 2(1), 3
C2Power of appointment conferred by s. 3(8) fully exercised
(1)The functions of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority shall include the undertaking of scientific research in such matters not connected with atomic energy as may, after consultation with the Authority, be required by the [F1Secretary of State], and section 2(2) of the M1Atomic Energy Authority Act 1954 shall apply as if any such research were research into matters connected with atomic energy.
(2)There shall be defrayed out of moneys provided by Parliament any increase attributable to subsection (1) above in the sums payable under section 4(1) of the Atomic Energy Authority Act 1954 out of moneys so provided.
(3)Section 3(6) and (7) above shall have effect in relation to any activities carried on or to be carried on by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority by virtue of this section as if the Authority were a government department.
F1Words substituted by virtue of S.I. 1970/1537, arts. 2(2), 7(4)
M11954 c. 32.
(1)The [F1Secretary of State][F2or the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food], . . . F3 may defray out of moneys provided by Parliament any expenses which, with the consent of the Treasury, they may respectively incur—
(a)in carrying on or supporting scientific research or the dissemination of the results of scientific research;
[ F4(b)in furthering the practical application of the results of scientific research;]
(c)in making payments in respect of remuneration, allowances or pension benefits payable to or in respect of members of any advisory body established for the purpose of assisting the Secretary of State [F5or, as the case may be, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food]F6. . .in matters connected with scientific research.
(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F7
(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F8
F1Words in s. 5(1) substituted (1.1.1996) by S.I. 1995/2985, art. 5(1), Sch. para. 1(2)(a)
F2Words in s. 5(1) inserted (15.11.1999) by S.I. 1999/2785, art. 2(2)(a)
F3Words repealed by S.I. 1971/719, Sch. para. 7
F4S. 5(1)(b) substituted (6.7.1992) by S.I. 1992/1296, art. 6(1), Sch. para. 2(3)
F5Words in s. 5(1)(c) inserted (15.11.1999) by S.I. 1999/2785, art. 2(2)(b)
F6Words in s. 5(1)(c) omitted (1.1.1996) by virtue of S.I. 1995/2985, art. 5(1), Sch. para. 1(2)(b)
F7S. 5(2) repealed by S.I. 1969/1498, Sch. 2
F8S. 5(3) repealed by Radiological Protection Act 1970 (c. 46), Sch. 2
C1S. 5 amended (E.W.S.) by Electricity Act 1989 (c. 29, SIF 44:1), ss. 99(1), 112(3), Sch. 17 para. 35(1)
C2S. 5: certain functions excercisable concurrently (1.7.1999) by S.I. 1999/672, arts. 1(2), 2, Sch. 1
C3S. 5 modified (N.I.) (1.4.1992) by S.I. 1992/231, art. 60, S.R. 1992/117, art. 3(1)
C4S. 5: functions transferred (1.7.1999) by virtue of 1998 c. 46, ss. 53, 56(1)(d); S.I. 1998/3178, art. 2(1)
C5S. 5(1): Functions transferred (15.11.1999) by S.I. 1999/2785, art. 2(1)
C6S. 5(1): Certain functions of the Secretary of State made exercisable concurrently (6.7.1992) by S.I. 1992/1296, arts. 2(2)(a), 3
C7S. 5(1)(b): Certain functions of the Secretary of State made exercisable concurrently (6.7.1992) by S.I. 1992/1296, arts. 2(2)(b), 3
(1)In this Act “scientific research” means research and development in any of the sciences (including the social sciences) or in technology.
(2)Nothing in this Act shall prejudice or affect any power to amend or revoke the charters of any Research Council, or any power of Her Majesty to grant new charters, or affect the operation of any amendment made or charter granted after the passing of this Act.
(3)The enactments mentioned in Schedule 4 to this Act are hereby repealed to the extent specified in the third column of that Schedule, with effect in each case from such day as Her Majesty may by Order in Council appoint.
C1Power of appointment conferred by s. 6(3) not exercised in relation to unrepealed entry in Sch. 4
This Act may be cited as the Science and Technology Act 1965.
Science and Technology Act 1965