§ 55. Mr. Owenasked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what progress is being made with schemes of automation in British industry; and whether he will issue a statement showing the position at the end of 1961.
§ Mr. R. ThompsonI have been asked to reply.
As the hon. Member was informed on 9th February, 1961, the many processes and techniques now labeled "Automation" are widespread in industry, and it would be impossible to compress into a single statement an accurate and comprehensive assessment of the situation at any one time. Surveys of particular sectors of industry are undertaken from time to time by Government Departments and various representative industrial organisations, and these are published in the technical Press.
§ Mr. Owenasked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science if he will set up a joint committee of scientists, employers, and trade unionists to examine and report upon the development and application of automation in British industry; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. R. ThompsonI have been asked to reply.
No. Scientists, industrialists and trade unionists already have a valuable forum for discussing this subject in the British Conference on Automation and Computation. Membership includes representatives from government, industry, commerce, trade unions, universities and colleges of advanced technology, and covers all branches of science and technology.