§ Lord Houghton of Sowerbyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Under what conditions contributions to political funds of trade unions payable by members employed in the public sector are deductible from pay under current arrangements for the collection of union contributions through the "check-off" system.
§ The Secretary of State for Employment (Lord Young of Graffham)There are a variety of arrangements in the public sector for the collection of union contributions, including the political levy, by check-off.
1272WAAll employers must comply with Section 18 of the 1984 Trade Union Act, which requires that they stop collecting the political levy by check-off if asked to do so by a union member. If the employer continues to deduct the levy or cancels the member's deductions altogether while continuing to operate the system for other members of the union, the member has a remedy in the county court.