§ 8. Mr. Norwoodasked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will now introduce legislation to establish the principle of equal pay on the lines of the Bill introduced in 1954.
§ Mrs. CastleThe survey into the implications of equal pay for certain industries, which has been carried out by my Department in consultation with the T.U.C. and C.B.I., is now complete and a report on its findings is being prepared. I expect to receive it shortly when I shall be able to resume my discussions with both sides of industry on the timing of the implementation of equal pay and the form which legislation might take.
§ Mr. NorwoodCan my right hon. Friend assure the House that every ounce of speed will be used in bringing forward this legislation, as it is bound of its nature to be somewhat complicated?
§ Mrs. CastleI can certainly give my hon. Friend an assurance that I shall now press ahead with discussions with the T.U.C. and the C.B.I. in the light of this report which has been drawn up on a survey carried out in consultations with both of them and which both of them feel to be an essential preliminary to our decision.