asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what grounds the men's rate is paid to the Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Town and Country Planning and withheld from the Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Pensions; and if he will take steps to remedy this anomaly.

No. It was decided some time ago that it would be appropriate to grant equal pay exceptionally to the two most senior grades of the Civil Service. The first of these officers is in one of these grades; the second, though holding a similar title, is not. She is graded as an Under-Secretary, a rank to which equal pay has not yet been applied.