Equal Pay

Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Minister for Women – in the House of Commons at 11:30 am on 27 January 2005.

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Photo of Patricia Hewitt Patricia Hewitt Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry 11:30, 27 January 2005

We are of course looking carefully at the EOC's proposal. Indeed, we established the Women and Work Commission, which is chaired by Baroness Prosser, to examine the action that needs to be taken to deal with the fundamental causes of the gender pay gap. We have already strengthened the law in this area and are creating specialist equal pay tribunals. We will, of course, continue to look at proposals for further action, while recognising that we must balance the demands that we make on business with the proper standards that we set to protect individuals. I welcome the hon. Lady's commitment to that principle.