§ Baroness SharplesMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are satisfied that under Sections 10 and 11 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1974 the duty to keep annual returns and accounting records laid on both unions and employers is being performed.
§ Lord LYELLMy Lords, responsibility for enforcing these provisions rests with the independent Certification Officer. In his report for 1978, the Certification Officer said that the requirements of Sections 10 and 11 of the 1974 Act had raised some difficulties; his office was devoting increased attention to these matters with the aim of bringing about a progressive improvement in accounting and auditing standards wherever it was needed. I understand that the Certification Officer will be describing the progress made since then in his Annual Report for 1979, which is due to be published in about three months' time.
§ Baroness SHARPLESMy Lords, I thank my noble friend for that Answer, and I should like to ask about the Certification Officer and in particular why he is not called the Registrar, as in the Act. I should like to know where I can find him or her and whether he or she has any grounds for believing that auditors have had any difficulties in carrying out their duties.
§ Lord LYELLMy Lords, the title of Certification Officer was created under the Employment Protection Act 1975. I understand that the change in the nomen- 480 clature was considered just for administrative convenience. However, I can give my noble friend an address together with a telephone number which will enable her to find the Certification Officer. As regards the last question that the my noble friend asked, there have been no grounds as yet for the Certification Officer to believe that there is any difficulty for the auditors in carrying out their duties under Sections 10 and 11, and indeed, Section 12, of the Act.
§ Baroness SHARPLESMy Lords, is my noble friend not prepared to give your Lordships' House his or her name now?
§ Lord LYELLMy Lords, indeed I am. His name is Mr. John Edwards. I shall certainly communicate the telephone number to my noble friend at a later stage.