HC Deb 04 April 1979 vol 965 cc804-5W
Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied with the response by trade unions to the requirement to supply audited accounts to the certification officer for trades unions and employers' associations; and if he will list the trade unions which have not yet supplied such information.

Mr. Harold Walker

This is a matter for the certification officer. In his annual report for 1977—the latest available—the certification officer indicated that of 436 listed trade unions and 168 listed employers associations, 43 and 23 respectively had not rendered annual returns for 1976 by the end of 1977, although they were required by law to do so by 1 June 1977. He added that he was in touch with all of these bodies, most of which were small, and that appropriate action was being taken to obtain compliance with the statutory requirements. The certification officer, like his predecessor in this context—the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies—does not publish the names of organisations failing to comply with the statutory requirements.