§ Sir W. DAVISONasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that amalgamated trades unions are registered under the Trades Union Acts in the Register of Friendly Soceties; that the branches or districts of such amalgamations are also registered; that the Amalgamated Association of Operative Cotton Spinners and Twiners is registered as No. 93 T and the Operative Cotton Spinners and Twiners Provincial Association of Bolton is registered as No. 1658 T as a district association of the amalgamated society; whether this double registration leads to confusion in connection with claims for the return of Income Tax, grants for unemployment relief, &c.; and whether he proposes to take any, and, if so, what action in the matter?
Mr. YOUNGI have been asked to reply. The actual position differs from that described by the hon. Member. Some amalgamations of trade unions are registered by the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies and some are not. Some branches of amalgamated trade unions are registered, bat the greater number are not. The two associations named in the third part of the question are registered, but the second is not registered as a district association of the first. There is not, so far as I am aware, any question of double registration. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.