§ 1. Dr. Summerskillasked the Minister of Labour what stage he has reached in his examination of the social and economic issues of implementing the right to equal pay for equal work; and when this examination will be completed.
§ The Minister of Labour (Mr. Ray Gunter)This examination is bound to take time, but it is making good progress. I cannot yet say how soon it will be completed.
§ Dr. SummerskillWould my right hon. Friend tell the House that it is his definite intention to introduce legislation to keep an election pledge given to the nation by the Labour Party that it would implement the right to equal pay for equal work?
§ Mr. GunterAs my hon. Friend knows, the pledge given by the Labour Party was that if returned to power it would seek, at an appropriate stage in its first term of office, to consider ways and means of implementing equal pay. We shall fulfil that pledge.
§ Mr. RidsdaleWould the right hon. Gentleman say what the cost of such a proposal would be?
§ Mr. GunterThere are so many actuaries and economists working on it now that I do not know.