§ Mr. John Ryanasked the Minister of Labour what steps he is now taking to speed up the application of equal rates of pay to women doing similar jobs as men; and what effect the differential scales of selective employment tax payment will have on this process.
§ Mr. GunterA meeting at official level with the T.U.C. and C.B.I. has been arranged and will take place next month for further discussion in detail of problems associated with equal pay. As I told my hon. Friend, the Member for Faversham on 29th July the timing of any action must be affected by economic circumstances. I do not think the differential rates of the Selective Employment Tax will have any significant effect on progress in achieving equal pay.