§ 23. Mr. Rankinasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the hardship suffered by retiring women civil servants whose pensions were reckoned on unequal salaries, and in view of the recent gradual introduction of equal pay in the public services, he will, in the current review of the Pensions (Increase) Acts, reassess the pensions of such women as if they had been receiving equal pay at the time of their retirement.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerNo, Sir. Both sides of the Civil Service National Whitley Council accepted with regret that this was not practicable in respect of women retiring during the period of the gradual implementation of equal pay. Still less is it practicable for women who retired earlier.
§ Mr. RankinIs the Chancellor not aware that the Chorley Report dealing with the salaries of the higher-grade civil servants recommended that their pensions should be based on a notional salary, and if it is possible to do that for the higher grades, why is it not for the lower grades?
§ Mr. ButlerAlas, both sides agreed it was impossible. I have a copy of their printed Report in my hand.