§ 13. Sir R. Russellasked the Minister for the Civil Service how many women are employed in Government Departments as industrial civil servants, full time and part time, respectively; and what is his estimate of the total cost of increasing their pay to the rates paid to men doing similar work.
§ Mr. George ThomsonI have been asked to reply.
A total of 24,857 full time and 12,185 part time. The answer to the second part of the Question is—about £2 million.
§ Sir R. RussellAs the principle of equal pay for equal work has been accepted by all parties in the House, is not it time that the Government set an example by granting it to their industrial civil servants?
§ Mr. ThomsonThe Government's policy on the principle of equal pay for equal work is well known, but it would not be possible for them to deal with the aspect raised by the hon. Gentleman in isolation from the phased implementation of equal pay in industry generally.