§ 85. Colonel WOODCOCKasked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that neither the Miners' Federation of Great Britain, nor the unions comprising it, are under any legal obligation to render to the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies or its members any financial statement in regard to the political funds collected by unions for the Miners' Federation of Great Britain; and will he take steps to make the inclusion of such information compulsory?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDI am aware of the position to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers in the first part of the question. With regard to the last part, I am not at present in a position to make any statement on the subject of the amendment of the law as to trade unions.
§ Colonel WOODCOCKDoes the right hon. Gentleman propose to take steps to see that these unions may conform to the strict legal obligations imposed upon other unions?
§ Mr. LEEDoes the right hon. Gentleman know that the same conditions apply to the Mining Association?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDI am not at all sure that it does apply to the Mining Association, and, as far as I know, the Miners' Federation do not come under the obligation to submit accounts. I am speaking off-hand, and would like to verify the point. I am not sure that they come under any legal obligation to render accounts to the Registrar as is the case of an individual mining association.
§ Colonel WOODCOCKIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that these unions pay into the Miners' Federation, and in that way are not required to send in returns to the Registrar?
§ Mr. SEXTONWhat is the difference between the Miners' Federation and the Federation of British Industries or the Stock Exchange?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDThere is a great deal of difference.
§ Mr. W. THORNEDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think that the Miners' Federation are entitled to spend their own money in their own way without interference?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDIt is not a question of interference with their right to spend their money; it is only a question of whether or not they should send a return to the Registrar of the way in which they spend it.
§ 86. Colonel WOODCOCKasked the Minister of Labour if he can give the figures for the year ended 31st December, 1925, of the Tailors' and Garment 2812 Workers' Trade Union, showing the total receipts, working expenses, officers salaries, allowances and expenses, and benefits paid to members, other than dispute pay, respectively; and what per centage of the total income has been spent on working expenses?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDThe annual return for the year ended 31st December, 1925, shows total receipts, £39,243 11s. 10d.; working expenses, £23,447 9s. 5d. (including £15,283 15s. 2d. as salaries and allowances to officers, etc., and branch secretaries); and benefits paid to members other than dispute pay, £9,855 3s. 3d. Of the total income 59˙75 per cent. has been spent on working expenses.
§ Mr. W. THORNEIs the right hon Gentleman aware that many trade unions in this country spend a very large sum of money for the upkeep of trade boards and of the Whitley Council for the purpose of preventing strikes and lockouts?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MA1TLANDAll I can say is that in this answer I have tried to be as fair as I possibly could to all sides while giving information.
§ 87. Colonel WOODCOCKasked the Minister of Labour if he can give the figures for the year ended 31st December, 1925, of the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen, showing the total receipts, working expenses, officers' salaries, allowances and expenses, and benefits paid to members, other than dispute pay, respectively; whether benefit funds of that union have been used as strike pay; and, if so, to what extent?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MA1TLANDThe annual return for the year ended 31st December, 1925, shows total receipts, £132,889 16s.; working expenses,: £45,139 8s. 7d. (including £15,848 16s. 1d. as salaries and allowances of officers, etc., and branch secretaries); and benefits paid to members other than dispute pay, £40,425 2s. 10d. The Protection Fund, which apparently is the only fund ordinarily available for strike pay, was overdrawn at the 31st December, 1925, to the extent of £58,370 14s. 10d. To this extent, therefore, assets belonging to other funds have been used for expenditure from the Protection Fund. This fund, however, is used for many other items of expenditure than strike 2813 pay, e.g., expenditure on account of wages boards, sectional joint councils, incapacity allowances,, legal defence, etc., and it is not possible to state to what extent benefit funds have been used as strike pay.
§ Mr. SEXTONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that dispute pay is less than 30 per cent. of the total amount?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDI will try to get what information I can for the hon. Member.
§ Mr. BROMLEYDoes the right hon. Gentleman think it would be better in the public interest if the railway union referred to withdrew from the operation of the Wages Board and so saved £7,000 a year of this expenditure?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDNo, Sir.
§ Colonel WOODCOCKDoes the Minister think that the method of dealing with these benefits is strictly in accordance with the law?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDThe hon. and gallant Member must put that question to the Attorney-General.
§ Mr. PALINGCan the right hon. Gentleman say what benefits other than dispute pay are included in the £9,000?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MA1TLANDI cannot say without going to the Registrar, and I am not sure how much of the information at his disposal would cover these particular points. If the hon. Member wishes to put down a question, I will try and see what: information I can get.
§ Mr. W. THORNEIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Registrar has a tabulated form which he supplies to every trade union and which has to be filled up?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDOh, yes. It is on the right hand side of the page. I can show it to the hon. Member.