Equal Pay (Hansard, 7 February 1966)

§ 45. Mr. Hugh Jenkins
asked the Minister of Labour when the Report of the Inter-departmental Working Party on Equal Pay will be published.

§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour (Mr. Ernest Thornton)
It is not customary to publish the reports of official committees of this kind, and my right hon. Friend does not propose to publish this Report. The Working Party's task was to give the Government an up-to-date appraisal of the relevant facts and their implications, and this it has done.

§ Mr. Jenkins
Has my right hon. Friend nothing more to say? Is he not aware that this matter was included in the Labour Party's election manifesto? Has he no further prospect or encouragement to hold out?

§ Mr. Thornton
This Report was prepared for the information of Ministers and was never intended for publication. We are now going to proceed forthwith to have discussions with representatives of the C.B.I, and the T.U.C. to find ways and means of implementing the principles.

§ 48. Dr. Summerskill
asked the Minister of Labour if he will make a statement on the Report of the Working Party on Equal Pay for women.

§ Mr. Thornton
I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Clapham (Mrs. McKay) on 31st January.

§ Dr. Summerskill
Will my hon. Friend please say when the meeting between the Minister, the T.U.C. and the Confederation of British Industry will start, and when the discussions will be completed.

§ Mr. Thornton
I hope that the discussions between my right hon. Friend, the T.U.C. and the C.B.I, will commence before very long. I cannot give a specific date; neither can I give a date when the discussions will be completed.