§ Mr. Peter Bottomleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will introduce legislation to enable him to require trades unions which have failed to make their returns to the certification officer to do so.
§ Mr. WaddingtonTrade unions are required under the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1974 to submit annual returns about their affairs to the certification officer. The Act already contains provision to enable proceedings to be brought against any trade union which refuses or wilfully neglects to perform this duty. The certification officer is an independent statutory officer and I have no powers of direction.