Equal Pay

HC Deb 06 December 1961 vol 650 c160W

39. Mr. Boyden

asked the Minister of Labour why Her Majesty's Government refuse to ratify the International Labour Organisation convention on equal pay.

Mr. Hare

Practice in this country does not at present conform with its provisions.

44. Mr. Prentice

asked the Minister of Labour if he will make a statement on his recent discussion with members of the Economic Committee of the Trades Union Congress on the subject of equal pay for men and women.

Mr. Hare

The deputation suggested that, as a first step, the Government should ratify the International Labour Convention No. 100 on equal pay. They recognised that this might later create need for legislation.

I replied that we could not ratify the Convention as existing practice did not conform with it. To legislate would represent a radical change of policy, since equal pay had hitherto been accepted as a matter for collective bargaining. I was, therefore, unable to accept their proposals for immediate action, but I undertook to give careful consideration to the views expressed.