§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will undertake a detailed inquiry into the operation of the Equal Pay Act to determine the causes for the reverse trend towards equal pay; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonWhilst there was some fall in women's earnings as a percentage of men's earnings in 1978 and 1979, there was a slight rise in 1980. I can see no case for a detailed inquiry into the operation of the Equal Pay Act to determine the reasons for these changes.