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A cross-party group of MPs have tabled a Commons early day motion for the government to regularly release official statistics on the happiness of the nation, to help inform legislation.
Jo Swinson (Lib Dem, East Dunbartonshire) said that promoting happiness and well-being is a "legitimate and important goal" of government and must be taken more seriously.
Swinson referred to a speech made by prime minister David Cameron in 2006, when he said: "It's time we admitted that there's more to life than money, and it's time we focused not just on GDP but on GWB - general well-being."
Last Thursday the Lib Dem MP tabled the early day motion that the Commons "believes that the promotion of happiness and well-being is a legitimate and important goal of government; notes that large surveys such as Eurobarometer show the UK's happiness has remained broadly static for at least a quarter of a century."
She went on to call for an "introduction of official and regularly conducted statistics on national well-being in the UK to inform policy-making."
The motion has been signed by five other MPs including Green Party leader Caroline Lucas and Tory MP Peter Bottomley.
Swinson has also put down a parliamentary motion on the role of the media in the development and maintenance of negative body image and eating disorders.
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