Labour politicians have called for an annual equal pay check of Britain’s biggest companies to be carried out by the by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission.

Backing the call, Daniel Zeichner MP spoke in a Commons debate to tackle the issue of pay inequality as British women still only earn 81p for every pound earned by men.

The Labour MP pointed out that progress towards equal pay slowed under the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition and highlighted his concerns that the crisis in our careers service was having a knock on effect in pushing young women down the more traditional and low-paid employment routes. He also warned that there was a risk that the funding cuts to further education colleges could have the same effect.

In a challenge to the Government, Mr Zeichner said: “Change comes when we make it happen” and called on them to urgently make clear if bonus payments and overtime will be included when they implement a new part of the Equality Act. The MP said: “Men are typically far more likely to receive both. By not including them, comparisons will be seriously distorted and it will look as if pay in the workplace is more equal than it really is.”