Part IU.K. Trade Unions

Chapter IIIE+W+S Trade union administration

[F1Investigation of financial affairs]E+W+S

Textual Amendments

[F237C Inspectors’ reports etc.E+W+S

(1)An inspector or inspectors appointed under section 37B—

(a)may, and if so directed by the Certification Officer shall, make interim reports, and

(b)on the conclusion of their investigation shall make a final report,

to the Certification Officer.

(2)Any report under subsection (1) shall be written or printed, as the Certification Officer directs.

(3)An inspector or inspectors appointed under section 37B may at any time, and if so directed by the Certification Officer shall, inform the Certification Officer of any matters coming to his or their knowledge as a result of the investigation.

(4)The Certification Officer may direct an inspector or inspectors appointed under section 37B to take no further steps in the investigation, or to take only such further steps as are specified in the direction, if—

(a)it appears to the Certification Officer that matters have come to light in the course of the investigation which suggest that a criminal offence has been committed and those matters have been referred to the appropriate prosecuting authority, or

(b)it appears to the Certification Officer appropriate to do so in any other circumstances.

(5)Where an investigation is the subject of a direction under subsection (4), the inspector or inspectors shall make a final report to the Certification Officer only where the Certification Officer directs him or them to do so at the time of the direction under that subsection or subsequently.

(6)The Certification Officer shall publish a final report made to him under this section.

(7)The Certification Officer shall furnish a copy of such a report free of charge—

(a)to the trade union which is the subject of the report,

(b)to any auditor of that trade union or of any branch or section of the union, if he requests a copy before the end of the period of three years beginning with the day on which the report is published, and

(c)to any member of the trade union if—

(i)he has complained to the Certification Officer that there are circumstances suggesting any of the states of affairs specified in section 37B(2)(a) to (d),

(ii)the Certification Officer considers that the report contains findings which are relevant to the complaint, and

(iii)the member requests a copy before the end of the period of three years beginning with the day on which the report is published.

(8)A copy of any report under this section, certified by the Certification Officer to be a true copy, is admissible in any legal proceedings as evidence of the opinion of the inspector or inspectors in relation to any matter contained in the report; and a document purporting to be a certificate of the Certification Officer under this subsection shall be received in evidence and be deemed to be such a certificate unless the contrary is proved.]

Textual Amendments