§ 26. Mr. James Dickensasked the Minister of Technology if he will set up an inquiry into the effects of automation on the British economy in the period to 1975.
§ Dr. BrayA number of inquiries relating to the effect of automation are already in hand, but it is not a subject suitable for a single all-embracing inquiry.
§ Mr. DickensDoes my hon. Friend agree that experience in North America amply illustrates that automation introduced by an unplanned, free enterprise system simply leads to a situation that that system cannot cope with? Does he further agree that the imperative need in this country is for the Government to learn from this experience and to ensure that automation introduced by the private sector comes as part of central and regional economic planning so that the effects of automation on training and on location of industry are appropriately dealt with?
§ Dr. BrayAs my hon. Friend knows, we are certainly taking a wide range of action in relation to the planning of industry, by industry and by region. The industrial training boards are vastly increasing the scale of their activities. We have a Royal Commission working on the trade unions at present. The whole National Plan and the machinery of the Plan is under review. My hon. Friend can therefore be assured that it 21 is the Government's aim to pursue a constructive policy in relation to the planning of automation and not to allow any evil consequences to develop.