7. Dr. M. S. Millerasked the Secretary of State for Employment what action is being taken to improve work satisfaction and the quality of working life.
§ Mr. John FraserA tripartite steering group on job satisfaction consisting of representatives of Government, the TUC and CBI was set up in 1973 and this group now meets under my chairmanship. It has initiated a job satisfaction research programme on job design and work organisation.
A work research unit is being set up within the Department of Employment following a recommendation of the steering group and my right hon. Friend hopes to make a statement soon about its work.
Dr. MillerI welcome my hon. Friend's answer, but does he accept that the introduction of automated processes in factories is soul destroying and, apart from other problems associated with factory work, has a terribly demoralising effect on ordinary normal intelligent human beings? Will he therefore speed up the work of the committee, and may we have some action upon it?
§ Mr. FraserMy right hon. Friend hopes to make a statement soon. A great deal more thought has to be given to work satisfaction before automated processes are introduced. We shall treat the matter as being serious and urgent.
§ Mr. CraigenDoes my hon. Friend accept that this is not a matter simply of looking at job satisfaction in factories but of considering the whole wider aspect of job satisfaction?
§ Mr. FraserThe steering group is looking at work satisfaction as it affects not only factory work but clerical work and other occupations, because they can be just as boring as an automated job.