TRADITIONAL CONCEPT EVISAGED A BODY OF INDEPENDENT, JUDICIALLY MINDED PERSONS WHO MODELED THEMSELVES ON THE PROCEDURE OF A COURT OF LAW AND REACHED THEIR CONCLUSIONS BY TAKING EVIDENCE FROM THOSE WHO HAD THE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE THEY THEMSELVES LACKED. TODAY THE TYPICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE IS MAINLY RECRUITED FROM PERSONS ALREADY VERSED IN THE SUBJECT TO BE INVESTIGATED. SINCE SUCH EXPERTS TEND TO BE EXPENDABLE, MEETINGS BECOME MORE DIFFICULT TO ARRANGE. AND COMMITTEES TAKE LONGER TO PRODUCE REPORTS. MOREOVER, THOSE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCE IN A PARTICULAR FIELD TEND TO HAVE ALREADY FORMED OPINIONS ABOUT IT. IT IS ALSO NOW USUAL TO HAVE SEVERAL CIVIL SERVANTS SITTING IN WITH THE COMMITTEE. IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THAT ADVISORY BODIES ARE LARGELY OUTMODED AND SHOULD BE REPLACED PERHAPS BY MUCH SMALLER GROUPS OF SPECIALISTS WHO START FROM COMMON PREMISES AND WORK FULL TIME FOR SHORT PERIODS ON RESTRICTED PROBLEMS WITH ACCESS TO RESEARCH FACILITIES WHEN APPROPRIATE. NOTES ARE GIVEN AND A DISCUSSION APPENDED. (MJW)