§ Mr. SNOWDENasked if the principle of equal pay for equal work as between men and women was being observed in the minor appointments under the Insurance Commissioners, as in the case of the Commissioners; and, if so, was it proposed to appoint male clerks at salaries of £65 a year rising to £110; and was it intended to appoint no women to the higher clerical and administrative posts?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe scales paid to men and women respectively holding minor appointments under the English Insurance Commission are those applicable to the Civil Service generally; and the Commissioners hope to appoint women to higher positions as the work progresses and opportunity offers.
§ Mr. SNOWDENAm I to assume that there is a differentiation of pay between men and women?
§ Mr. MASTERMANNo. They are doing different work. There is only the differentiation which occurs in any other Government Department.
§ Mr. SNOWDENAm I to assume that if women be appointed to positions of equal responsibility to those held by men they will receive the same rate of remuneration?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI cannot say more than I have said in regard to all cases. But in the one position of great responsibility to which a woman has been appointed—namely, on the Commission itself—she is paid exactly the same as the men.
§ Mr. SNOWDENIs the hon. Gentleman aware that his predecessor in office, in reply to a question put by me, said that the principle of equal payment for equal work would be applied to all the appointments?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI agree with that proposition.