HC Deb 15 May 1956 vol 552 cc164-5W
84 Mr. Osborne

asked the Minister of Labour how many people he estimates will be directly affected in their employment by automation; how long it will be before they are affected; and if he will use the Central Office of Information to explain the facts of the situation to those workers directly concerned.

Mr. lain Macleod

The development of automation may be expected to continue to be gradual, but it is not possible to forecast the rate at which it will be introduced or the number of workers whose employment may be affected. As regards the second part of the Question, the Government will take steps to make factual information about automation known generally. It is, as I said in the House on 8th May, for individual firms which are contemplating its introduction to consider how it will affect their workers and to bring them into early discussion.

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