§ 51. Mrs. Tateasked the Prime Minister whether the terms of reference of the Royal Commission on Equal Pay specifically include the power to make recommendations.
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. The Commission was required by its terms of reference to consider the social, economic and financial implications of the claim of equal pay for equal work and to report.
§ Mrs. TateIs not my right hon. Friend aware that the House understood that, in the setting up of the Committee, it was implicit that there should be recommendations; and does he think that it is worthy of a Government led by a man as great as he is perpetually to try to hold back the tide of progress with these pebbles of prejudice?
§ The Prime MinisterI neither deserve the excessive praise nor the excessive blame in which my hon. Friend has enshrouded her supplementary question. I was asked, as a matter of fact, whether the terms of reference specifically include that power, and anyone who likes to read the terms of reference will see that they do not specifically include that power.