§ Mr. Hayhoeasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many applications for financial assistance towards the training of trade union officers and leaders have been received during the last 18 months; how many have been agreed; what is the total sum involved in the applications and in the grants agreed; and whether she will publish in theOfficial Reporta table giving the names of the trade unions concerned and the amounts involved, together with the dates on which the applications were received and the decisions were notified to the applicants.
§ Mr. Oakes:The TUC bids annually for grant and support of its expenditure 251W and that of affiliated unions on trade union education and training activities. Grant is paid jointly by my Department and the Department of Employment. £1 million has been agreed for this financial year and £796,511 . 25 paid to date. Grant is applied by the TUC to approved activities in accordance with an agreed memorandum of arrangements. Expenditure on education and training of salaried employees of the TUC or independent unions is expressly excluded. I have today placed in the Library copies of the current memorandum and the audited accounts for 1977–78. The accounts list the individual unions involved and the amounts received in respect of their separate activities.
The Departments have also set aside sufficient funds in the current year to provide grants, at the same level per member and under comparable arrangements, for independent unions not affiliated to the TUC which apply for such grant aid. To date only the Sun Life staff association has formally applied for grant. That application has been approved and a payment of £143 . 55 will be made very shortly. A number of other inquiries have been received and further applications are expected from non-affiliated unions.