Status of neutral currents

The subject of neutral currents and gauge theories is reviewed with especial emphasis on recent developments. Having considered the 'classical' results the implications of the new experimental results discussed at the present Conference (Topical Conference on Neutrino Physics at Accelerators. Oxford. Jul (1978)) are considered with special emphasis on polarized electron scattering. Models are considered and it is shown that the standard (Weinberg, Salam, Glashow ...) SU(2) x U(1) model is now the only viable gauge model if restricted to relatively simple possibilities. Some open problems and possible options for the future are considered. 72 references. (U.K.)