Following proposals by D.L.J. Perkins of I.C.T. and his correspondence with Sir Philip Morris, a meeting was called for 31 July 1962 under the Chairmanship of Sir Harry Melville (Secretary, D.S.I.R.) 'to discuss a proposal that a school of Computer Science or Computational Philosophy should be founded' (MS. Eng. misc. b. 286/E.22). It was agreed to appoint a Working Party to review the current use of computers in research and to recommend proposals for further research.

The Working Party, which was Chaired by L. Howarth, held its first meeting on 23 October 1962. Strachey was invited to act as its consultant (MS. Eng. misc. b. 286/E.23), his main task being to review previous work and research in progress in the UK (MS. Eng. misc. b. 286/E.29-MS. Eng. misc. b. 286/E.31) and to present reports to the Working Party (included in MS. Eng. misc. b. 286/E.26 and MS. Eng. misc. b. 286/E.27).

The final report of the Working Party was issued in April 1964 (MS. Eng. misc. b. 286/E.28).