§ 3. Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has formulated so far to refer collective agreements to the Industrial Arbitration Board in 1975 under the terms of the Equal Pay Act 1970.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Employment (Mr. John Fraser)I am writing to both sides of a number of negotiating bodies which still have discriminatory collective agreements, asking about their plans for implementation of the provisions of the Equal Pay Act. My right hon. Friend will consider possible references in the light of the replies received.
§ Mr. Kilroy-SilkHow many negotiating bodies are involved, and what action would my hon. Friend propose to take if the replies from those bodies were unsatisfactory?
§ Mr. FraserI am writing to 52 negotiating bodies, on both sides. If the replies are not satisfactory—that is, if no signs of achieving equal pay by the end of 1975 are shown—my right hon. Friend will consider referring them to the Central Arbitration Committee of the CAS when it is set up on a statutory 1328 basis, with a view to getting the advice of that body about the agreements.