industries, research facilities and a publicity and travel Bureau for Scotland in London. Merger During the war the Scottish Development Council was seen as a constituent part of the Scottish Council on Industry, although many of the members of the Development Council considered the Council on Industry as a temporary body that was necessary only to deal with wartime issues. In 1945 the Council on Industry felt that it still had much to do in the post-war period and therefore wanted to expand its organisation, raising the funds for this from the Scottish public, particularly from the local authorities. It was agreed by both bodies that it would be desirable, in order to avoid confusion and the possible overlapping of functions, that there should be a single authoritative body in Scotland to which the Secretary of State could look for advice and the general public for guidance and help, on questions of industry, employment and development. The then Secretary of State, Joseph Westwood, agreed with this and also endorsed that the reconstituted Scottish Council would be much enhanced if it could derive its revenue entirely from voluntary sources, thereby retaining freedom of action and effectiveness. The amalgamation of these two bodies on 3 June 1946, under the Chairmanship of Lord Bilsland – then Sir Steven Bilsland – had as its objectives the combination of the functions of the two original Councils. On the one hand, to continue to analyse the industrial situation, and to act in the light of that analysis so as to create more employment opportunities. On the other hand, to make representations to Government on matters affecting the progress of industry in Scotland. The subject matter of the council's work has always been fundamentally industrial. In particular the council has occupied itself with matters of policy and practice relating to technology, trade development, communications and the environment within which industry operates. This policy was made clear by the work of the Scottish Council right from the beginning. Post-War In the immediate post-war period, the Scottish Council was the only agency in Scotland actively engaged in industrial promotion. In the course of the first year, panels and committees of the Council investigated many industries, including light and medium engineering, chemicals, building materials and plastics. Their aims were to ensure the greater utilisation of Scottish raw materials, to make recommendations for further industrial development and to stimulate action on