§ 19. Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take further action designed to ensure more rapid progress towards the implementation of equal pay.
§ Mr. John FraserI am currently considering whether to refer collective agreements which contain discriminatory provisions to the Industrial Arbitration Board for advice, and I am in correspondence with a number of negotiating bodies in this connection. I am also conducting a publicity campaign about the Act. My Department is continuing to monitor the state of progress towards equal pay generally and the Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service has agreed to my request to continue to provide information and advice on a wide basis to firms which need it.
§ Mr. Kilroy-SilkIs my hon. Friend aware that that answer is not dissimilar from a previous answer he gave me in December? Is he further aware that there are far too many discriminatory collective agreements? Will he now take positive and firm action to refer those discriminatory collective agreements to the Industrial Arbitration Board so that more rapid progress can be made in future than in the past towards equal pay?
§ Mr. FraserI am trying to be positive and firm. I am sure that the letters I have sent to negotiating bodies are having a good effect on progress towards equal pay. If I identify agreements which are not being renegotiated and where I do not think that equal pay will be achieved, I shall seriously consider a reference. I am also considering including in the Anti-Discrimination Bill provisions which will enable the Equal Opportunities Commission to investigate and forward the cause of equal pay.