§ 72. Colonel WOODCOCKasked the Minister of Labour if he can state the amount of strike funds held by the unions comprised in the Miners' Federation of Great Britain at 31st December, 1925; the amount of strike pay available per head of the membership of the unions; and the strike or other similar benefit paid by the respective unions to their members per head during the present mining stoppage?
§ The MINISTER of LABOUR (Sir Arthur Steel-Maitland)The answer to the first two parts of the question is in the negative, as it is not the practice to set aside separate funds for the provision of strike pay. Information as to disbursement of strike pay during the present year will not be available until the annual returns up to the end of the year have been furnished.
§ Colonel WOODCOCKWill the right hon. Gentleman consider an alteration of the form of the return sent to the Registrar so that in future returns the House, as well as the public, may have an opportunity of knowing what funds are available?
§ Mr. SPENCERIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that a monthly statement is published to every member of the unions showing the disbursement of all funds?
§ Mr. MACQUISTENIs there any reason to believe that any of the money that came from Russia to the miners has reached the pockets of the working miners?
§ Captain GARRO-JONESIn view of the fact that the Minister may give this information in regard to trade unions, may I ask whether it would be in order to seek similar information in respect to employers' organisations?
§ Mr. SPEAKERIf it arises I will deal with it.
§ 74. Lieut.-Colonel HENEAGEasked the Minister of Labour what was the total of the political funds of the miners' district trades unions on the 31st December; how much has since been contributed from these political funds towards the miners' strike pay; and on what date payment was first made?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDExcept for a few of the miners' trade unions which may have a political fund of their own, the miners' unions are affiliated for political purposes to the Miners' Federation of Great Britain and render no statutory return of their political income, expenditure or funds. The Miners' Federation of Great Britain is not registered and is therefore under no statutory obligation to furnish any return.
§ Lieut.-Colonel HENEAGEIs it to be supposed, then, that the funds of this union are in such a condition that the miners have no knowledge of what goes in benefit, and what goes in salaries?
§ Colonel WOODCOCKIs not this a mere subterfuge for collecting the political funds of all these unions?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat does not arise.
§ Lieut.-Colonel HENEAGEHas any payment at all been made to the miners' strike funds by any political fund of the Miners' Federation?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDI do not quite know. There may have been out of some of the trade union funds, but I have no actual information. What my hon. and gallant Friend asked for was the total. That I cannot give because the greater part of the funds are paid to the Miners' Federation, and they are not a registered trade union.
§ Mr. SPENCERIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the whole of the political expenses incurred in fighting seats for this House and maintaining their members does not exceed a farthing a week?
§ 73. Major RUGGLES-BRISEasked the Minister of Labour if he can give the figures for the year ending 31st December, 1925, of the National Union of Agricultural Workers, showing the total receipts, working expenses, officials' salaries, allowances and expenses and benefits paid to members, other than dispute pay, respectively; and the percentage of working expenses to the total income of the union?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDThe annual return filed with the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies for the year ended 31st December, 1925, shows total receipts £15,096 11s. 9d.; working expenses £13,832 12s. 2d. (including 28,485 13s. 2d. as salaries and allowances of officers, etc., and branch secretaries), and benefits paid to members other than dispute pay £1,292 14s. 7d. Working expenses represent 91.63 per cent. of the total income.
§ Mr. LEEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that trade unions as a whole are always complaining about the working expenses list and that it contains a good many figures that manufacturers and employers would not put inside such a list?
§ Mr. PALINGWhat does "working expenses" include?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDIf the hon. Member will put down a question, I shall be glad to try to get the information. Perhaps he will help me with regard to his own organisation.
§ Major COLFOXIs there any penalty against a trade union which does not submit these returns punctually, and how much grace is allowed for these returns to be submitted?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat question had better be put down.