Mr. Ted Fletcherasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will use his powers under the Equal Pay Act 1970 to allow the industrial arbitration boards and industrial tribunals to deal with complaints against companies which are failing to make progress in moving towards equal pay.
§ Mr. Chichester-ClarkThe Equal Pay Act provides for the reference of collective agreements, pay structures and wages regulation orders to the Industrial Arbitration Board for advice at any time during the year before 29th December 1975 and for individual claims to be referred to industrial tribunals for decision from 29th December 1975. The Government's decision not to make an order under Section 9 of the Act has already been announced.