§ 2. Mr. Dudley Smithasked the Joint Under-Secretary of State for Education and Science, as representing the Minister of Technology, what progress is 1025 being made in co-ordinating the results of studies being made of progress in the field of automation; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BoydenThe need for formal arrangements for co-ordination in addition to the ordinary processes of consultation between the Departments concerned is under consideration.
§ Mr. SmithWould not the hon. Gentleman agree that the biggest task of this new Ministry must be to chart the progress of automation and to gather together all the relevant information about it? Can he say in what way the recently announced intention of the sponsorship of four key and progressive industries is going to help in this direction?
§ Mr. BoydenThe Minister is, of course, considering this, and I have no further statement to make at the moment.