§ Mr. Kershawasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what payments have been made by the Government to the Trades Union Congress for education and training purposes in the financial years 1976–77, 1977–78 and 1978–79; what payments have been made for such purposes direct to individual unions over the same period, and what sums had been allocated to the Trades Union Congress for such purposes for the financial years 1979–80 and 1980–81.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsGrant has been paid jointly by my Department and the Department of Employment to the TUC in support of its education and training activities and those of affiliated independent unions as follows:
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£ 1976–77 … … … 399,000 1977–78 … … … 641,000 1978–79 … … … 1,000,000 During that period no grant has been paid direct by the Departments to TUC-affiliated independent unions, but in 1978–79 grant was made available to independent unions not affiliated to the TUC on a basis comparable with the agreed arrangements covering grant to the TUC. A total of approximately £20,000 was paid direct to nine such unions during that year.
Allocations for 1979–80 and 1980–81 have not yet been settled but the published 1979–80 Estimates, which are subject to parliamentary approval in due course, include provision for a grant of £1.455 million to the TUC.