asked the Minister of Labour if, in view of the fact that the American Labour Department estimates that 1,800,000 jobs are being lost annually through automation, he will set up a special committee to investigate how far unemployment is being created by automation in this country, and to advise what steps should be taken to deal with the social consequences; and if he will make a statement.

We are continuing to study not only the effects of automation in this country but the problems it has created in the United States of America and elsewhere. I do not think that the setting up of a special committee would be useful at this stage.