§ Mr. Soamesasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will seek to amend section 17(F) of the Trad Union Act 1984 to include candidates for general secretaries of trade unions.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyPart I of the Trade Union Act 1984 requires that every voting member of a union's governing body must be elected by secret ballot at least every five years. General secretaries who have this voting right will be covered by the provisions of the Act when they come into force on 1 October. It would be premature to seek to amend the legislation before it has taken effect.