§ Mr. Freesonasked the Secretary of State for Employment if there are any provisions under which recognised trade unions are enabled to have access to financial information of their firm or company; and if he will list those provisions in the Official Report and the circumstances in which they apply.
§ Mr. WaddingtonWhere failure to provide such information would impede collective bargaining to a material extent and its disclosure would be in accordance18W with good industrial relations practice, then general duty to disclose information requested by a recognised independent trade union, which is placed upon an employer by section 17 of the Employment Protection Act 1975, may apply. The code of practice on the disclosure of information to trade unions for collective bargaining purposes prepared by the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service provides practical guidance about good industrial relations practice and sets out the duties of employers and the procedures for complaint about failure to disclose under sections 17–21 of the Act. I am sending a copy to the right hon. Member.