David Cameron's plan to measure happiness branded ‘voodoo sociology’

A bid by David Cameron to measure the nation's happiness was dismissed as "tosh" by one of his MPs today.

The Office of National Statistics is being asked to come up with questions to show whether people are getting more or less content.

It follows a series of promises by the Prime Minister to make the concept of "general well-being" or GWB, as important as GDP as a measure of national success. The Prime Minister argues that there is "more to life than money".

Tory MP Peter Bone said the idea of a happiness index was a waste of money. "At a time when the eurozone is about to collapse, when we're paying £18.5 billion to the European Union, it seems strange we'll be spending money on gauging people's happiness. It's a non-story, it will go away." Another Tory MP dismissed the plan as "gesture politics".

Ukip MEP Godfrey Bloom called it "voodoo sociology". "I can guarantee that the only results will be greater spending, greater bossing around and a decrease in happiness across the board," he said.

Downing Street said to expect an announcement later this month. "It's something that the Prime Minister spoke about in opposition and it's something this Government says it is going to look at."

Chancellor George Osborne is backing the move. In his recent spending review, the Treasury said there was "widespread acknowledgement that GDP is not the ideal measure of well-being".

Almost 30 MPs have signed a Commons motion from Lib-Dem MP Jo Swinson, arguing that "promoting happiness and well-being is a legitimate and important goal of government".

She welcomed the survey, saying: While it's not government's job to make people happy, regular measures of well-being will at least make sure it is taken into account."

National Statistician Jil Matheson will devise the questions, which will be asked four times a year in the regular household survey.