§ Mr. John Grantasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what is the programme of his Department's work research unit for the next 12 months ;
(2) when his Department's tripartite steering group last met ; when it will next meet ; and with what agenda.
§ Mr. Jim Lester[pursuant to his reply, 13 June 1980, c. 247–48]: The tripartite steering group on job satisfaction (TSG) last met on Wednesday 4 June with Lord Gowrie, Minister of State, in the chair. The meeting received a report from the director of the work research unit (WRU) covering its activities since the previous meeting in January this year. The future programme of the unit for the period 1980 and 1981 was also considered and approved. The next meeting of the steering group will be held towards the end of October 1980, when a further report of the director of the WRU will be discussed.
The future programme of the unit will shortly be published and a copy will be placed in the Library of the House. The principal objective of this programme will be to :
increase the number of organisations that are successfully implementing changes to 510W improve the quality of working life of the people employed in hem and that are developing resources to continue to manage such changes".Particular emphasis will be placed on the opportunities presented for improving the quality of working life by the introduction of new technology and the development of new investment projects The WRU will pursue this aim by providing advice, assistance and information and by holding conferences and publicising the work of the unit.