§ Mr. Ernie Rossasked the Secretary of State for Industry if his Department has studied the impact upon employment of advanced manufacturing technology associated with robotic and allied industries in Great Britain.
§ Mr. ButcherMy Department has studied the impact of robotic allied technology on employment in manufacturing industry. In doing so we have drawn on a variety of outside studies, including those by the policy studies institute, the institute of employment research at Warwick university, the technology policy unit at Aston university and the science policy research unit at Sussex university.
Our own conclusions, based on these and other studies, our own work and the experience of companies with which we are acquainted are that:
- (a) as yet the diffusion of robotic and allied technology in the United Kingdom is very limited. In consequence there is no way that current levels of unemployment can be attributed to such technology;
409 - (b) there may be short-term displacement of labour in slow-growing industries;
- (c) there are considerable benefits to employment as a result of increased competitiveness and investment;
- (d) on balance the positive effects on employment are at least as great as the negative ones.
§ Mr. Ernie Rossasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list the types of financial assistance available for robotic development.
§ Mr. ButcherMy Department makes available
- 50 per cent. grants to companies for consultancy studies relating to the installation or manufacture of robots;
- grants of up to 33⅓ per cent. to companies towards the capital and development costs of installing robots;
- grants of up to 33⅓ per cent. to companies towards the costs of development of new British robots or robotic equipment for manufacture and sale.
In addition, the Science and Engineering Research Council makes grants available for robot research projects carried out jointly by universities and industry.