§ 15. Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if he will bring forward the date for the full implementation of equal pay.
§ Mr. R. CarrNo, Sir.
§ Mrs. ShortIn view of the Prime Minister's recently discovered interest in women and housewives, and as many women voted him into office, does not the right hon. Gentleman think that he ought to change his views about this matter and to give women a fair reward for the job they do in industry and to bring forward the date for the implementation of equal pay? Will he look at the matter again?
§ Mr. CarrThis was one of the matters on which I agreed with the right hon. Lady my predecessor. It is difficult to decide the correct speed of implementation. I think that the five-year period, which was set in the Equal Pay Act, is about right as a statutory requirement.