§ 44. Major HILLSasked the Prime Minister whether the Government intend 1444 to take any and, if so, what action, to carry out the Resolution of this House on 19th May, on the subject of equal pay for women civil servants?
§ The PRIME MINISTERHis Majesty's Government have carefully reviewed this question in the light of the discussion in the House of Commons on the occasion to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers. In this connection, he will remember that important and far-reaching changes were recommended in a recent Report of a Committee of the National Whitley Council on the organisation of the Civil Service, to which the consent of His Majesty's Government was conveyed through the official side. Steps are being taken to give effect to those recommendations, and pending further experience, the Government do not feel justified in varying them. In the nature of things, these recommendations can only be tentative, and the Government are prepared to review the situation afresh within a reasonable period of time, which in no case will exceed five years and will, I anticipate, be considerably less.
§ Major HILLSWhen will the policy of the Government on this be definitely announced? Am I to understand that the Government are going to pay no attention to the Resolution of this House of 17th May?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe House has really to decide between these varied recommendations, which add considerable sums of money to public expenditure for the various improvements which we all desire, but which we cannot afford. This applies to other subjects as well as the one mentioned in the question.
§ Major HILLSWhen will the Government policy be announced?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have now announced it.