§ Mr. PawseyTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what action the certification officer has taken to satisfy himself as to the accuracy of the annual returns from the National Union of Teachers.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythI understand from the certification officer, an independent statutory officer, that in assessing the accuracy of the annual returns from any union, and in the absence of any complaint from a member, he relies on the report of the appropriately qualified auditor which must form part of the return.
§ Mr. PawseyTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether the annual returns from the National Union of Teachers have been supplied on time each year since 1985.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythSection 32 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 requires that a trade union shall submit an annual return to the certification officer before 1 June in the calendar year 449W following that to which it relates. I understand from the certification officer, an independent statutory officer, that of the nine returns submitted by the National Union of Teachers since 1985, three were submitted by 1 June, four within the month of June, and the remaining two in the month of July.
§ Mr. PawseyTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the numerical strength of the National Union of Teachers as agreed by the certification officer for each year since 1985.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythI understand from the certification officer, an independent statutory officer, that the total number of members shown on the annual returns submitted to him by the National Union of Teachers for each year since 1985 were as follows:
Number 1985 253,672 1986 229,601 1987 224,538 1988 216,614 1989 213,482 1990 218,194 1991 214,675 1992 213,656 1993 232,243