§ 34. Mr. Bruceasked the Secretary of State for Employment what surveys his Department has made as to the likely effect of new technology on employment; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonWhile my Department and the Manpower Services Commission have not carried out or commissioned any general surveys, they have supported a number of specific studies in this field. Examples include studies by the Institute of Manpower Studies on new technology and employment in the financial services sector, and the training and recruitment effects of technological change. The MSC has published a two-part report "Monitoring New Technology and Employment", conducted by the science policy research unit, University of Sussex, and the technology policy unit, University of Aston.
The May 1984 edition of Employment Gazette (copies of which are available in the Library) includes an article surveying the literature on new technology and employment.
The evidence suggests that the consequences for jobs of not adopting new technology would be far more severe than those associated with its introduction. While some jobs will be lost, others will be gained. The adoption of new technology can lead to gains in competitiveness, allowing new product markets to be captured. This in turn offers the prospect of greater wealth, and the possibility of increased employment opportunities in the economy as a whole.