§ Mr. Boscawenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in view of the repercussions of the equal pay legislation on the employment of skilled female workers over 60 years of age, if he will give an assurance that when the earnings rule limit is next examined he will see if it can be raised where equal pay increases are involved.
§ Mr. DeanMy right hon. Friend has no plans to modify the earnings rule for retirement pensioners in this way. There seems no reason why a pay increase resulting from equal pay legislation should be treated differently from any other type of pay increase for earnings rule purposes.