§ Earl Russellasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have made any study of the likely effect of the possible abolition of wages councils on the movement towards equal pay for women.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Employment (Viscount Ullswater)The Employment Department has commissioned several studies on the general economic effects of wages councils. However, it is not possible to estimate the effect of abolishing wages councils on the pay of women relative to men.
There is a full legal framework in place to combat unfair sex discrimination based on pay. This is a better method for dealing with equal pay matters than statutory wage fixing, which damages employment and inhibits choice and opportunity, particularly for women.