§ Mr. Bishopasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many letters he has received in the last year regarding the need to implement the Equal Pay Act; and what action he is taking to ensure its enforcement by 1975.
§ Mr. Chichester-ClarkSince 1st June 1972 my right hon. Friend has received some 20 letters about the need to implement the Equal Pay Act. My Department published on 11th June a leaflet explaining the practical steps which firms need to take in planning implementation of the Act, copies of which were distributed to some 400,000 employers. In addition, provision is made in the Price and Pay Code for the reduction of existing differentials between men's and women's rates by up to one-third outside the pay limit in 1973.