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In the first half of the nineteenth century a remarkable group of Scottish evangelicals set out to address the theological questions raised by the possibility of intelligent life on other worlds. These included the popular science writer Thomas Dick, reformer and political economist Thomas Chalmers, natural philosopher David Brewster, and geologist and journalist Hugh Miller. All concluded that only a universe where life was ubiquitous would be compatible with the power and wisdom of the Deity. Each of them proceeded to formulate an answer to the problem of how the incarnation and atonement of Christ could relate to beings on other planets. The writings of these figures present a fascinating case study on how an important group of evangelical thinkers attempted to meet the challenges posed by modern science, not by rejecting its findings, but by developing a new synthesis between it and their religious beliefs.

Selected developments in government and administration in 2001 are reviewed. The focus is in turn on the centre and machinery of government, the Treasury's relations with departments, the scrutiny of the executive by Parliament and its auditors, the civil service, and public service partnerships. The developments reveal a striking reassertion by the government of public services in twenty-first century Britain, continuing tensions in their delivery and a diversity of consumer relations. (Parliamentary Affairs / FUB)

Selected developments in government and administration in the year 2000 are reviewed. The focus is in turn on the centre of government, the Treasury's relations with departments, the scrutiny of the executive by Parliament and its auditors, the civil service, the devolution of service delivery and the National Health Service. The review reveals the underlying and intractable problems the government is facing in implementing policy and delivering public services. (Parliamentary Affairs / FUB)