AbstractIn the early 70s, the position of the research councils in the UK government was being examined. Lord Rothschild's report proposed that government departments provide part of the councils' incomes — the 'customer-contractor' principle. The public discussion following the Green Paper was fierce and prolific. A White Paper then had to be produced to say this was to be a partnership, not a commercial arrangement. Rejecting the idea of an R&D minister, it was agreed that each department would publish annual R&D reports, and several would appoint Chief Scientists.