§ 18. Major Lyonsasked the Secretary of State for Air if he will now reconsider the arrangement whereby officers and other ranks of the W.A.A.F. who replace officers and other ranks of the R.A.F. get less pay than the male tradesmen replaced.
§ Sir A. SinclairW.A.A.F. personnel receive two-thirds of the corresponding R.A.F. rates of pay, and this practice is common to all three Women's Services.
§ Major LyonsIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is great public feeling against what is thought to be an injustice, and in the light of relevant considerations on the question of differentiation of pay, will he reconsider the whole situation?
§ Sir A. SinclairPerhaps my hon. and gallant Friend is aware that this is a subject which does not solely concern my Department and that it cannot be decided in isolation by one Department.
§ Mr. SorensenIf the principle of equal pay between men and women teachers is accepted by the Government, will the right hon. Gentleman apply the same principle to women in the Services?
§ Sir A. SinclairThis a matter which, as I have said, cannot be considered in isolation by any one Department. It can only be decided as a whole, and I have no reason to suppose that there will be any alteration in these Regulations.
§ Dr. Edith SummerskillWhy does the right hon. Gentleman pay W.A.A.F. women doctors the same as men doctors, but fail to do the same justice to other ranks?
§ Sir A. SinclairIf my hon. Friend will put down a question about women doctors I will answer it. Meanwhile, I am answering a question about W.A.A.F. personnel.