HL Deb 05 July 1982 vol 432 cc545-6
Lord Orr-Ewing

My 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 how many of the 12 largest trade unions have now filed their accounts for 1981; how many are in arrears; and which ones.

The Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Earl Ferrers)

My Lords, I understand from the certification officer that of the 12 largest unions, five have submitted annual returns and accounts for 1981. In one other case (the Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers) a return is outstanding from the Technical, Administrative and Supervisory Section. Six trade unions have not yet submitted their annual returns. They are the National and Local Government Officers' Association; the National Union of Public Employees; the Association of Scientific, Technical and Managerial Staffs; the Electrical, Electronic Telecommunication and Plumbing Union; the National Union of Mineworkers; and the Union of Construction Allied Trades and Technicians.

Lord Orr-Ewing

My Lords, is my noble friend aware that it is a disappointment that so many unions —half of them—should be late in filing their accounts? Is it not a fact that, under Labour legislation of 1974, the unions are obliged to file their accounts for the year by June of the following year? And is my noble friend aware that, in the private sector, if one does not file accounts for a public company, one is threatened with imprisonment—that all the directors can be threatened with imprisonment? Can my noble friend say whether there are any sanctions against unions which transgress along these lines?

Earl Ferrers

I agree with my noble friend that the penalties in the private sector operate under company legislation, whereas those which operate in this particular sector come under the Trade Unions and Labour Relations Act 1974. The position is that there is the possibility of the certification officer to prosecute if he feels that this is necessary. If he does do so the maximum fine is £100 for a trade union or employers' association or individuals of either. The fact is that he has not yet found it appropriate to take this action.

Lord Molloy

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that the certification officer—like his predecessor, the Registrar of Friendly Societies—has to submit reports, and that anyone in this land can ascertain whether or not in the specified period, including what is called the "extra time", any trade union or any member of the Confederation of British Industry have submitted their accounts? Is it not a fact that in all the world, the highest standards are maintained in this country by members of the CBI and of the TUC—in short, is this not something of which we ought to be proud?

Earl Ferrers

My Lords, I do not think that I would dissent from the majority of the views just expressed by the noble Lord, Lord Molloy.

Lord Murton of Lindisfarne

My Lords, as we understand that the maximum fine is £100, is it not rather extraordinary that this amount should be so small, bearing in mind that the total income of the unions is £270 million annually and that 12 million trade unionists are affected?

Earl Ferrers

My Lords, there are in this life all sorts of things which are extraordinary. Perhaps this is one of them.

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