§ 60. Mr. Willeyasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in the scheme for the implementation of the principle of equal pay for equal work in the Civil Service, he will provide for the pensions of women, now within seven years of retirement, to be reassessed on the basis of equal pay.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerUnder the scheme which I announced on 25th January, older women will advance to equal pay at the same rate as their younger colleagues. This scheme was produced by a Committee of the Civil Service National Whitley Council after long and sympathetic consideration of the possibility of including in it specially favourable treatment for older women. It has been recommended by the Staff Side to the executive committees of the several staff associations for their concurrence. I could not contemplate a scheme which increased the salary bill more steeply than it will be increased under that now holding the field, or one which departed from the principle of basing pensions on pay received.