Oral Answers to Questions — Unemployment. – in the House of Commons at on 13 February 1924.
Mr Daniel Somerville
, Barrow-in-Furness
asked the Minister of Labour whether the Government accepts the principle of equal pay for work of equal value for both sexes in the Civil Service and in industries generally so far as its influence can be exerted; and whether there are any branches of the Civil Service or such branches of industry where at the present time the principle is not acted on?
Mr. T.SHAW:
As regards industry, the question of pay for work done is a matter for settlement by discussion between the employers and workers concerned. I have no information as to cases in which the practice is not followed. As regards the Civil Service, I would refer my hon. Friend to the Resolution of the House of the 5th August, 1921, of which I am sending him a copy.
Mr Daniel Somerville
, Barrow-in-Furness
Does the right hon. Gentleman deny the right of women to equal pay for equal work?
Mr Thomas Shaw
, Preston
I did not deny anything I simply stated the facts.
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
