§ Commander BELLAIRSasked the Minister of Labour if he can give a list of the trade unions that now impose the political levy on their members; and, if the information is available, the total number of members belonging to those unions, the numbers exempted from the levy, and/or the total sums raised or set aside by the unions for political purposes?
§ Mr. BETTERTONI would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply given to the hon. and gallant Member for Leicester, South (Captain Waterhouse)—OFFFICIAL REPORT, 20th November, 1925, col. 790. In addition to the trade unions given in the table then supplied, the following registered trade unions have established a political fund since the 31st December, 1924:
- 1273 T.—Progressive Society of French Polishers.
- 1521 T.—National Union of Gold, Silver and Allied Trades.
- 1873 T.—"Altogether" Builders' Labourers and Constructional Workers' Society.
The following trade union which was included in the table referred to has since been removed from the register:
- 1779 T.—Brewing, Milling, and Allied Trades Clerical and Administrative Workers' Guild.
The total membership at 31st December, 1924, of the registered trade unions comprised in the table referred to above (exclusive of those unions for which no 1871W figures were furnished in the table) was 3,143,627, and the number of members who had claimed exemption was 90,660. The total contributions received from members of these unions for political purposes during the year 1924 amounted to £139,363, and the total unexpended 1872W balances of the political funds at 31st December, 1924, amounted to £208,549. The figures for 1925 are not yet available.
Certain unregistered trade unions have established political funds, but no particulars of these are available.