Occupational Pensions (Equality of Treatment for Women) Bill

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 12 Rhagfyr 1973.

Danfonwch hysbysiad imi am ddadleuon fel hyn

Photo of Mr Michael Cocks Mr Michael Cocks , Bristol South 12:00, 12 Rhagfyr 1973

Paragraph 2.5 says that there should be equal access to potential benefits and paragraph 2.8 says: the Government does not believe that it is necessary to require occupational pension schemes to provide benefits for women and men on the same basis…". It is that which my Bill is seeking to correct. There have been a number of comments received by the Government on the consultative document. The National Labour Women's Advisory Committee said: It is difficult to see how equal access to potential benefits is to apply if women are to be excluded from equal rights in occupational pension schemes…". Another comment, submitted by the General and Municipal Workers' Union, states: We have always viewed pensions as 'deferred pay' and therefore we regard the exclusion of women from occupational schemes as being an intolerable barrier to their claim of access to all 'potental benefits'. Neither the Social Security Act nor the Equal Pay Act requires equal treatment. They seem intent on continuing to encourage discrimination over pensions in this forthcoming legislation.

What is the female labour force to make of this? I cannot help feeling that women will be suspicious——