HC Deb 10 July 1967 vol 750 cc63-4
2. Dr. Summerskill

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has received the report of the Working Party on Equal Pay for Women; and if he will make a statement.

The Minister of Labour (Mr. R. J. Gunter)

I have received the report of the working group of officials of the Confederation of British Industry, the Trades Union Congress, and of my Department who have been looking at certain of the technical problems associated with the introduction of equal pay. I have sent copies of the report to the Confederation and to the Trades Union Congress, and I shall shortly be inviting leaders of these two organisations to discuss its contents with me.

Dr. Summerskill

Would not my right hon. Friend agree that as the majority of the lowest-paid workers are women, a fair and just incomes policy should include immediate legislation to enable them to receive the rate for the job?

Mr. Gunter

We are all dedicated to the last part of the proposition put forward by my hon. Friend, but, as she knows very well, there are difficulties, first in relating this to the prices and incomes policy in our present economic state, and, secondly, the apparent failure of both sides of industry to tell us what they mean by "equal pay".