HC Deb 05 July 1960 vol 626 cc198-9
5. Mrs. Castle

asked the Minister of Work how many men and women, respectively, are employed in the official car service under his Department; and what are their respective rates of pay.

Lord John Hope

As the Answer contains a table of figures I will, with pre-mission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mrs. Castle

Is it not a fact that Ministers are being driven about by girls in green who get 85 per cent. of the men's rate for identical work which they certainly do with identical efficiency, and ought not women Members of the Government to go on strike against this exploitation of their sex which they would not tolerate for a moment in their own position? Will the Minister approach the Chancellor and ask him to apply the principle of equal pay for identical work to the staff of his own Department?

Lord John Hope

The fact is that in the other organisations it is not universal practice by any means to pay men and women equal rates for driving duties. If the hon. Lady has a complaint about the general rule or custom, it is not really for me to answer a Question about it.

Mrs. Castle

But does the Minister realise that what I am referring to is the fact that the girls who drive Ministers about receive only 85 per cent. of the rate of men drivers, although their work is entirely similar? Indeed, if their work was not efficient, Ministers would not trust their lives to them. Is not this an intolerable situation, particularly in view of the fact that in the passenger transport industry—on the buses, for instance —the girls a£re receiving equal pay? Ought they not to receive it from the Government?

GOVERNMENT CAR SERVICE
RATES OF PAY AND NUMBERS OF STAFF AT 1ST JULY, 1960
Grade London Provinces
Men Women Men Women
Numbers Weekly Pay Rate Numbers Weekly Pay Rate Numbers Weekly Pay Rate Numbers Weekly Pay Rate
s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d.
Head Driver 4 209 0 6 209 0 — 201 0 5 201 0
3* 187 2
Leading Driver 1 204 0 2 204 0 — 196 0 5 196 0
10* 182 2
Male Car Driver 45 197 0 — — 31 189 0 — —
Female Driver, Gde. I — — 30 197 0 — — 9 189 0
Female Driver, Gde. II — — 47 182 7 — — 52 175 2
Female Driver, Gde. III — — — 168 2 — — 3 161 4
Total 50 — 85 — 31 — 87 —
GRAND TOTAL … 253
* Supervising Grade II drivers only.
In addition to the above, there are 47 men and 16 women in 28 supervisory and ancillary grades