§ 67. Miss JEWSONasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will set up a committee to discuss the question of equal pay for equal work for men and women in the Civil Service?
Mr. GRAHAMI would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer gave on this subject on the 3rd July to the Noble Lady the Member for the Sutton Division of Plymouth, of which I am sending her a copy.
§ Miss JEWSONDoes not the hon. Member think that that reply was contrary to the spirit, if not the letter, of the Sex Disqualification Removal Act?
Viscountess ASTORDoes not the hon. Gentleman think it was contrary to the election promises of the Labour party?
Mr. GRAHAMThe Government had to consider whether under the existing conditions this very large expenditure could be faced, and the decision was that at the moment it could not be faced.
Viscountess ASTORThe Government should have considered that point when they were making the promise.
§ Mr. J. HARRISAre we, as a nation, not committed to support this principle in the Treaty of Versailles, and if we are committed to support this principle, should not the Government Departments set an example?
Mr. GRAHAMThe position, I think, is that we are quite committed to the principle of equality of opportunity, and 2920 generally, also, on the question of equality of pay, but, as I view it, this is very largely a practical matter of how soon that can be attained, and the decision is that at the moment the funds cannot be found for this very large expenditure.
§ Mr. W. THORNEHave not the Government already recognised this principle, because the lady Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour receives the same salary as other Parliamentary Secretaries??