such as the Equal Pay Act 1970 and the Sex Discrimination Act 1975, as appropriate measures for the implementation of the Convention. 3. The main reason for the length and complexity of the reservations and declarations was that the United Kingdom had felt that some of the Convention's provisions had been rather hastily drafted and were rather imprecise. It was clear that the drafters had envisaged a progressive implementation of the provisions of the Convention where such provisions could not be complied with immediately. However, unless a State made declarations or reservations upon ratification, it would be fully bound by all provisions of the Convention. The United Kingdom was therefore bound to enter reservations or declarations on the provisions which it could not implement immediately upon ratification, even if it intended to rectify its position within a short time. 4. Neither the hereditary peerage nor religious organizations nor women's non-governmental organizations had been "consulted" about the reservations which the United Kingdom had proposed to make. However, the views expressed by a number of non-governmental organizations had been taken into account at each stage of the ratification process, including the National Council of Women of Great Britain, the British Federation of University Women, CHANGE and the Responsible Society. There had been no representations from religious organizations. The Government's intentions to enter reservations concerning religious organizations and the peerage had been clearly stated in both Houses of Parliament in replies to parliamentary questions before ratification (in 1984 and 1985) and reflected the provisions of the Sex Discrimination Act, which made similar exceptions. That had given interested parties an opportunity to comment if they so wished. 5. Replying to the specific question raised by Ms. Ilic, she said that the United Kingdom's reservations to the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights regarding sex discrimination differed from those which it had made 
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the implementation of international human rights conventions, specifically the Equal Pay Act and the Sex Discrimination Act, and the reservations and declarations made by the United Kingdom. The text mentions parliamentary questions and non-governmental organizations, which suggests that the topic is related to government and international law.

**Category**
Employment, Humanitarian aid and relief