HC Deb 19 June 1956 vol 554 cc1215-6
14. Dame Irene Ward

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make arrangements to ensure that when the proposals of the Joint Committee on the Report of the Royal Commission on the Civil Service are introduced, the assimilation anomalies resulting from the gradual scheme of equal pay which have been brought to his attention will be removed.

Mr. H. Macmillan

The arrangements ensure that no woman will receive less than the full amount to which she is entitled from time to time under the scheme for the gradual implementation of equal pay, and I do not think that any anomaly arises.

Dame Irene Ward

In view of the fact that this is a very complicated question, which has aroused great antagonism among the women in the Civil Service, who regard the present suggestion as a very mean action, may I, before I express an opinion and before a final decision is taken, ask my right hon. Friend whether he will receive me privately to discuss the matter? He dare not deal with the teachers in the way in which he is dealing with the civil servants, and I have very strong views about it.

Mr. Macmillan

As my hon. Friend, has said, this is a very complicated question. [An HON. MEMBER: "The hon. Lady should take a bodyguard."] I should be very glad to discuss the matter with her and with any assessors or friends she likes to bring with her.