S-Branch
The S-Branch was a small group of academic economists in the UK, established in 1939 at the Admiralty by Frederick Lindemann, [1st Viscount Cherwell|Frederick Lindemann]. Its role was to report directly to prime minister Winston Churchill distilling complex data into succinct charts and figures, to aid speedy evaluation. Members of the S-Branch included Sir Roy Harrod, G. L. S. Shackle, Helen Makower and later, D. G. Champernowne and David Bensusan-Butt. The operation of this statistical branch often caused tensions between government departments, but it was important because it allowed Churchill to make quick decisions based on accurate data.