HC Deb 28 July 1926 vol 198 cc2093-7
32 and 33. Colonel WOODCOCK

asked the Minister of Labour (1) if he can give the figures for the year ended 31st December, 1925, of the South Wales Miners' Federation, showing the total receipts, working expenses, officers' salaries, allowances and expenses, and benefits paid to members, other than dispute pay, respectively;

(2) if he can give the figures for the year ended 31st December, 1925, of the National Union of Railwaymen, showing the total receipts, working expenses, officers' salaries, allowances and expenses, and benefits paid to members other than dispute pay, respectively?

34 and 35. Commander FANSHAWE

asked the Minister of Labour (1) if hit can give the figures for the year ended 31st December, 1925, of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers, showing the total receipts, working expenses, officers' salaries, allowances and expenses, and benefits paid to members, other than disput pay, respectively;

(2) if he can give the figures for the year ended 31st December, 1925, of the National Union of General Workers, showing the total receipts, working expenses, officers' salaries, allowances and expenses, and benefits paid to members, other than dispute pay, respectively?

36 and 37. Captain CROOKSHANK

asked the Minister of Labour (1) if he can give the figures for the year ended 31st December, 1925, of the Electrical Trades Union, showing the total receipts, working expenses, officers' salaries, allowances and expenses, and benefits paid to members, other than dispute pay, respectively;

(2) if he can give the figures for the year ended 31st December, 1925, of the Railway Clerks' Association, showing the total receipts, working expenses, officers' salaries, allowances and expenses, and benefits paid to members, other than dispute pay, respectively?

Sir A. STEEL-MAITLAND

As the reply contains a number of figures I propose to circulate a table in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Colonel WOODCOCK

Was it not formerly the custom to publish periodically a return of the particulars of the 100 chief trade unions in the country and in this way to supply those particulars to the House; and is the right hon. Gentleman prepared to resume the publication of these particulars so that the House may have the information desired.

HON. MEMBERS

And the Conservative clubs!

Sir A. STEEL-MAITLAND

If the hon. Member wishes me to reply to that question from memory, I think there used to be published a periodical return of information as regards trade unions. I think this information, or something similar, was published before the War. I am not certain whether it has been published since the War; if so, I think it was only on one occasion. If the information is obtainable in the same form, I am perfectly willing to consider the publication of a return of a, similar character to the return which used to be published as a regular custom.

Mr. J. H. THOMAS

Will the right hon. Gentleman keep in mind that while the House, certainly, ought to have this information, it is already obtainable. Is he not aware that this information can be obtained in a public document from the Registrar, and that these questions can only be fishing questions put for an ulterior object?

HON. MEMBERS

Withdraw!

Mr. SPEAKER

I should like to look into that matter. If it be the fact that ibis information is available to Members in other ways, apart from the Question Paper, those other means ought to be used, but I have not, at present, knowledge on that point.

Captain SHAW

On a point of Order. Is it in order for the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Derby (Mr. Thomas) to impute ulterior motives to hon. Members on this side?

Mr. THOMAS

On the same point of Order. You yourself, Sir, have expressed some doubt as to whether this information could have been obtained elsewhere, and some of us were in doubt as to the legitimacy of these questions. I desire to say that I did not put my supplementary question until I was certain of the facts which I have stated, and it is within the knowledge of hon. and right hon. Gentlemen on the Government Bench that this return to which I refer, is public property and can be obtained through the Registrar.

Sir A. STEEL-MAITLAND

I shall communicate with you, Sir, afterwards, when I have ascertained exactly how far this information is obtainable, apart from question and answer in the House.

Mr. SPEAKER

I think that is the best way to deal with it. With regard to the point of order of the hon. and gallant Member for Westbury (Captain Shaw), I understand his objection is to the term "fishing questions."

Captain SHAW

No, Sir. An ulterior motive was assumed to lie behind the questions asked by hon. Members on this side.

Commander FANSHAWE

Arising out of the Minister's first reply, can we not. be given an answer on the Floor of the House to these questions? A similar question was asked on Monday and was answered in a very short way. Could we not have an answer in the House to these questions which have not been asked for any ulterior motive?

Mr. SPEAKER

The Minister has undertaken to circulate an answer to these questions giving these statistics. After what has occurred, it is my duty to inquire whether this information is available by other means than question and answer in the House, but that applies to future questions and not to those which are to-day on the Paper.

Commander FANSHAWE

Is it the case that this information is not circulated free?

Mr. KELLY

Arising out of question 34—

Captain SHAW

I put a point of Order.

Mr. SPEAKER

I am about to deal with the hon. and gallant Gentleman's point of Order. I do not think there was anything in the question by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Derby (Mr. Thomas) to call for my intervention. Seeing the series of questions on the Paper I cannot see that it is my duty to take objection to it.

Colonel WOODCOCK

May I point out, in reference to the suggestion of ulterior motives, that, as I have already stated, all this information was formerly supplied to the House, and it was with a view to obtaining this information as to the 100 chief trade unions, as it was formerly supplied to the House, that I put down the question.

Mr. THOMAS

I certainly do not desire to pass any personal reflection, but if that was the object of the hon. and gallant Gentleman this is the tenth question and it has been intimated that each question costs something. If the hon. and gallant Member's object was as he has indicated, he could merely have asked for the former return, which, incidentally, could have been given.

Captain GUNSTON

Is it not the case that the hon. Lady the Member for North East Ham (Miss Lawrence) pressed that a certain question should be answered in the House the other day; and could not that be granted to-day?

Mr. SPEAKER

I think the House ought to pass to the next question.

Mr. KELLY

With regard to question No. 34, the Minister states he is going to give a reply in detail. May I ask where is he going to get the information for that reply, in view of the fact that there is no such trade union in this country as the Amalgamated Society of Engineers.

Mr. SPEAKER

The hon. Member had better wait and see what the answer will be.

Mr. THURTLE

rose—

Mr. SPEAKER

Other hon. Members have questions on the Paper, and this

Following is the table:

The following FIGURES are compiled from the ANNUAL RETURNS made to the CHIEF REGISTRAR of FRIENDLY SOCIETIES for the YEAR ending 31st DECEMBER, 1925:—
Union Total Rece pts. Working Expenses.
Total Of which salaries and allowances of officers, etc., and branch secretaries. Benefits paid to members other than dispute pay.
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5)
£ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d.
South Wales Miners' Federation. 173,889 0 4 85,352 15 8 31,396 2 5 92,828 11 10
National Union of Railwaymen. 641,723 17 7 230,810 0 0 101,973 12 1 201,289 0 3
Amalgamated Engineering Union. 1,264,290 13 7 168,071 8 11½ 95,774 18 8 935,861 17 10½
National Union of General Workers. 350,830 0 3 181,538 3 9½ 123,178 19 5½ 42,775 13 10
Railway Clerks' Association. 141,694 11 3 63,284 8 10 29,169 5 2 26,112 3 3
In the case of the Electrical Trades Union the annual return for the year ended 31st December, 1925, has not yet been field.