To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what mechanisms the Certification Office has in place to monitor whether trade unions affiliate more members to the Labour Party than contribute to their union's political fund. (143170)

Some unions with political funds do not affiliate to any political party. In the case of those unions that affiliate to a political party, the affiliation arrangements are matters for the unions and political parties to decide in accordance with their rules and constitutions. The Certification Officer therefore has no specific powers to monitor the number of members that trade unions affiliate to political parties.