§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will make it her policy to ensure that the equal value regulations of the Equal Pay Act 1970 are implemented in full.
§ Mr. McLoughlinThe Equal Pay (Amendment) Regulations 1983 have been fully in operation since 1 January 1984.
§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will make it her policy to revise the Equal Pay Act 1970 to ensure that women in sex-segregated industries are not prevented from benefiting from the Act.
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§ Mr. McLoughlinThe Equal Pay Act 1970, as amended, provides that a woman who is employed on like work, work rated as equivalent under a job evaluation study, or work of equal value, to a man employed by the same or an associated employer is entitled to equality with him in the terms of her contract of employment. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no plans to extend the scope of the Act in the way suggested.
§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will make it her policy to assist the pursuit of equal pay claims by women employees through taking steps to minimise the expenses incurred by the claimant and the delays in application.
§ Mr. McLoughlinIndustrial tribunals are intended to provide a cheap, speedy and relatively informal means of resolving disputes arising out of the employment relationship, including the Equal Pay Act. In consequence under part IV of the Legal Aid Act 1988, legal aid is not available for representation before industrial tribunals. However, according to an applicant's financial circumstances he or she may be able to obtain from a solicitor, without cost, legal advice and assistance with preparation of an application to an industrial tribunal.
The Equal Opportunities Commission has made a number of recommendations for changes to the Equal Pay Act 1970 some of which, the commission states, will reduce the time taken to deal with equal value applications. These recommendations are currently under consideration.