§ 6. Miss Irene Wardasked the Minister of Labour if he will give an assurance that in any future discussions on equal pay for equal work, either at home or at the International Labour Conference, he will regard the issue as a salary and wage question, unrelated to benefits payable under our social service systems.
§ Mr. IsaacsThe policy of the Government in regard to equal pay for equal work remains as set out in the statement made by the then Chancellor of the Exchequer to Parliament on 11th June, 1947, to which I have nothing to add.
§ Miss WardIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that he has given no answer at all to my Question? Is he further aware that his policy, as enunciated at Geneva, caused great consternation and is regarded as an attack on wages, in the case of both men and women?
§ Mr. McCorquodaleThe right hon. Gentleman said he has nothing to add. Why, then, did he add so many and such extraordinary statements when he dealt with the subject at Geneva?
§ Mr. IsaacsAs I said, that was the situation, and those were the facts as they were known to exist.