To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what reasons have been given for failure to submit AR21 returns to the trade union certification officer, by those trade unions which have so failed to submit them; and if he will make a statement;(2) how many trade unions have failed to submit their AR21s by 1 June 1990 to the certification officer for trade unions and employer associations as required by the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1974; and if he will list them.

Monitoring trade unions' compliance with the provisions of the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1974 as regards the submission of annual returns is a matter for the certification officer, an independent statutory authority. I have referred the questions to the certification officer who will be replying shortly.