§ Mr. Peter BottomleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will estimate the number of consents that would be required under the proposed requirement that employers seek renewed consent to check-off deductions.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythThe Green Paper "Industrial relations in the 1990s", published in July 1991, quoted a 1989 survey which suggested that some 7 million employees are currently covered by check-off arrangements. Under provisions contained in the Trade Union Reform and Employment Rights Bill every employee who wishes to pay union subscriptions through check-off will need to give written consent before deductions are made, and to renew that consent every three years. Where employees are covered by check-off arrangements when these provisions come into effect, employers will have one year during which to seek their written consent that they wish to continue to pay their subscriptions in this way.