§ SIR FREDERICK MILNERI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any member of a Trade Union can, under the Trades Union Act, claim to be supplied annually with a balance sheet; and if he is aware that the officials of the West Yorkshire Miners Union have refused to supply balance sheets to several applicants?
§ MR. WOODSIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in consequence of the lavish distribution of the West Yorkshire Miners Union balance sheets of the last three years The Sheffield Daily Telegraph has had its pages flooded with financial arguments relative to them, and that they are used solely for political purposes?
§ MR. ASQUITHI am not acquainted with the subject to which the hon. Member refers. In reply to the question 1851 on the Paper, I have to say that by Section 16 of the Trades Unions Act, 1871, every member of and depositor in any Trade Union is entitled to receive, on application to the Treasurer or Secretary of that Trade Union, a copy of its general statement of receipts, funds, effects, and expenditure without making any payment for the same. I am not aware that the officials of the West Yorkshire Miners' Union have refused to supply a copy of its general statement to any member or depositor. If they had, they and the Trade Union are each liable under the same section to a penalty not exceeding £5 for each offence. I have just received a telegram from the Secretary stating that they have thousands of last year's balance-sheets in stock, but that no one asks for them.