Asked by: Lord Spellar (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Lloyd of Effra on 20 October (HL10843), whether the Department and Minister have any oversight or responsibility for the Certification Officer and the fulfilment of their duties and responsibilities.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Certification Officer accounts to Parliament by making their annual report, which is laid before Parliament and published by the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State has the power to remove the Certification Officer, but only where the Certification Officer has been adjudged bankrupt, convicted of a criminal offence, has demonstrated misconduct, is incapacitated, or is otherwise unable or unfit to hold the office.
However, the Certification Officer is independent in how they exercise their statutory functions.
Asked by: Lord Spellar (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch on 12 December 2024 (HL2726), what assessment they have made of whether the Certification Officer is fulfilling their duties to ensure that unions provide their accounts as required by section 32 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch on 12 December 2024, I can only reiterate that it is not for Government to compel a union to provide its annual return. That is for the Certification Officer, who is independent of Government.
Asked by: Lord Spellar (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is their policy regarding the appointment of representatives of workers on to public boards and advisory bodies.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch
The appointments of worker representatives onto public boards and advisory bodies are dependent on the legislation associated with its membership and follow the appropriate public appointments recruitment processes.
Asked by: Lord Spellar (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the enforcement of section 32 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1992 by the Certification Officer.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch
Section 32 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 requires a trade union to send an annual report to the Certification Officer.
The Certification Officer is the regulator of trade unions and employer associations. The Certification Officer has the power to require a union to provide its annual return. The annual return must include, among other things, details of the union’s finances for the reporting year.
It is not for Government to compel a union to provide its annual return. That is for the Certification Officer, who is independent of Government.