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This study of a sample of firms based in a region of Scotland, examines the characteristics of organizations that are early adopters of management development methods. The survey results show that organizations that are early adopters of one or more of four fashionable management development techniques—open learning, computer‐assisted learning, action learning and outdoor management training—are also characterized by a sophisticated approach to human resource development and the use of other ‘high performance’ HRM practices. Such findings are consistent with the literature on innovation that points to rational‐technical factors influencing the decision‐making process of early adopter organizations in contrast to institutional factors such as social conformity that are more important in influencing late adopter organizations. However, the data also point to the limitations of using an early‐late stage adoption framework for the diffusion of techniques such as those used in management development.

The failure rate of small firms in the UK is high, but there is little reliable evidence as to what factors account for success or failure in small businesses. Lending organizations have adopted a set of criteria that they use to evaluate new business proposals. One lending organization sponsored a research project with the object of identifying whether a general set of competences could be found which were associated with effective performance in the region. Describes the setting up and findings of the research, and identifies the competences that were found.

One of the businesses (AA) in the UK was making losses and staff motivation was poor. If only its management realised it; however, its circumstances could offer it potential salvation.

Analysis of the responses of 131 local union officers to a questionnaire found that a number of variables are related to the attitudes of union leaders toward quality of worklife (QWL). Unions are morelikely to participate in a QWL program if local officers feel that unions can influence government policy, their members expect them to make progress on QWL issues, and if it is important to have good local‐member relations. Unions are less likely to participate in a QWL program if officers believe that unions are strong, feel employers favor severe tactics, and place a priority on traditional bargaining issues. For unions involved in a QWL program, union strength and perceived influence over government policy were related to positive attitudes regarding the long‐term future of QWL. For unions without QWL experience,severe management policies toward unions, and higher member expectations for local performance on QWL issues were related to more favorable attitudes toward QWL, while the officer’s tenure in position was related to a less favorable view of QWL. For locals involved in a QWL program, satisfaction with QWL increases if officers feel the labor movement needs to change its attitude and approach to problems, the labor relations climate is favorable, the local has sufficient bargaining power, and the overall performance of the local is satisfactory. The results suggest that “get tough” management policies toward unions will negatively affect union participation in and satisfaction with QWL efforts.

The immense strides made by technical research and therefore in technical education during the past thirty years have been readily appreciated. What is less obvious is that west London—an area which for this purpose lies between Staines and Kensington—has developed with remarkable rapidity during that period too. A quarter of Britain's light industry is now concentrated in that region, and in it are located no less than 3,800 firms of various sizes.

In 1923 Harry Crook of Bristol pioneered the manufacture of a new type of twisted wire brush, and, copying an American idea, marketed his product using a door‐to‐door selling technique. Today the firm he founded, Kleeneze, still 100 per cent British, has a turnover of £11 million, employs a staff of 600, and, is expanding fast. Today, Kleeneze's profitability lies foremost in the manufacture and marketing of products for industry, particularly brushstrip. Moreover with sales in 14 countries, a factory in Virginia, USA, a company in France and another one planned in Germany, the export potential is very promising.

Since March 16th the ban on the use of soya in the manufacture of sausages has been removed. The lifting of this restriction, which has been in force since 1946, will be welcomed by some manufacturers who claim that soya is an excellent binding agent. We are doubtful, however, whether these sentiments will be shared by all public analysts, many of whom are of the opinion that the presence of soya in a sausage renders the determination of the meat content if not wholly impossible at best a series of long and tedious processes, the accuracy of which would seem to be a matter of some controversy. Upon our enquiry about this divergency of opinion to the Ministry of Food, we were told that the Ministry were quite satisfied that the new Order could be properly enforced, in other words we assume this to mean that they consider the presence of soya does not prevent the accurate determination of the meat content. This was the answer one would expect to receive from the authority who framed the Meat Products Order, but it is none the less surprising to recall that only a very short while ago the Ministry were of the reverse opinion. In May 1950 a report was published in this Journal of a case heard before Old Street Magistrates. The defendants were summoned under The Meat Products, Canned Soup and Canned Meat (Control and Maximum Prices) Order, 1946, for selling sausages which contained soya. The Order stated that no persons should manufacture or sell any sausage, slicing sausage or sausage meat which to his knowledge contained any soya product. The prosecuting solicitor, for the Ministry of Food, said that it was necessary under the Order of 1946 for sausages to contain a minimum meat content, and if soya flour were used to bind the sausage it was not possible upon analysis to determine the meat content. It would be interesting to know whether the results of research during the past two years have made available new and efficient methods of examination which justify this change of viewpoint. We are advised, however, that if soya is present the amount of meat cannot be accurately assessed, and, moreover, the percentage error of this determination is likely to be directly related to the percentage of soya in the sausage. Thus it would seem possible that this new piece of legislation provides an added incentive to an unscrupulous manufacturer to prepare his mix with a lower meat content than that prescribed and to make up the balance with soya: a practice which would enable him to make more sausages than his honest competitor, and which would probably be difficult to expose.

Smedleys Ltd v. Breed effectively disposes of Section 3 (3), Food and Drugs Act, 1955 as a defence in law in what nowadays constitutes the commonest source of all food prosecutions, viz., foreign matter in food. Their Lord‐ships' judgment is indeed a brilliant exposition of the law on the subject, but the result of their dismissal of the appeal can only be seen, as one of their number stated, that local authorities and magistrates for all practical purposes can ignore the subsection, and from the numerous reports of legal proceedings, this is what they have been doing for many years. It was resurrected in a case, similar in circumstance to that in Smedleys, a couple of years ago, in respect of a snail in black currant jam, in which the snail and black currants were identical in size and appearance.

Reports research from the Future Foundation which shows that teenagers are basically very satisfied with their lives; they realise that living standards on the whole have never been better. Outlines the research methods, which used interviews with 500 13‐18 year olds living with their parents in the UK, plus four focus groups in different parts of the country. Finds that school is the dominant concern in teenagers’ lives, although they are not always satisfied that it prepares them for adult life; there is no clear generation gap between teenagers and parents, and parents take a strong interest in their teenage children: families are now more open and democratic than they used to be. Concludes that popular myths about teenage rebellion and resentment are untrue, and that most teenagers have close and supportive relationships with siblings and older family members.

It is more interesting to speculate on the reasons given for the changes made on 1st June last in the sale and availability of vitamin supplements in the Welfare Foods Service than in the action taken. After the date given tokens for free supply of vitamin supplements are invalid and supplies will be sold at prices which cover their cost to the Government, only for the use of expectant and nursing mothers, children under five years and one month and handicapped children. No changes are being made in the arrangements for obtaining liquid milk at the special welfare price of fourpence a pint or National Dried Milk at two shillings and fourpence a tin.