HC Deb 14 December 1972 vol 848 cc191-2W
Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he is aware that several trades unions at their Whitsun, Easter and Summer annual conferences decided to raise their union subscriptions for their members from the start of the New Year; and as these actions were taken before the introduction of the counter-inflation legislation, whether he will allow the new subscriptions to be paid from 1st January.

Sir G. Howe

I know that certain unions have been considering subscription increases. Whether trade union subscriptions come within the provisions of the Counter-Inflation (Temporary Provisions) Act depends on whether the unions are to be regarded as operating in the course of business as defined in the Act. I am advised that trade unions operating as such will usually not be operating in the course of business and will therefore be outside the Act.