{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/trade-union-and-labour-relations-consolidation-act-1992/section-44",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/trade-union-and-labour-relations-consolidation-act-1992/section-44.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1992/52",
  "legislation_title": "Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/trade-union-and-labour-relations-consolidation-act-1992",
  "path": "section/44",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "44",
  "heading": "Discharge of duties in case of union having branches or sections.",
  "text": "(1) The following provisions apply where a trade union consists of or includes branches or sections.\n(2) Any duty falling upon the union in relation to a branch or section under the provisions of—\nsection 28 (duty to keep accounting records),\nsections 32 and 33 to 37 (annual return, accounts and audit), or\nsections 38 to 42 (members’ superannuation schemes),\nshall be treated as discharged to the extent to which a branch or section discharges it instead of the union.\n(3) In sections 29 to 31 (right of member to access to accounting records) references to a branch or section do not include a branch or section which is itself a trade union.\n(4) Any duty falling upon a branch or section by reason of its being a trade union under—\nsection 24 (register of members’ names and addresses),\nsection 24ZA (duty to provide membership audit certificate),\nsections 24ZB and 24ZC (duty to appoint an assurer etc),\nsection 28 (duty to keep accounting records),\nsections 32 and 33 to 37 (annual return, accounts and audit), or\nsection 38 to 42 (members’ superannuation schemes),\nshall be treated as discharged to the extent to which the union of which it is a branch or section discharges the duty instead of it.\n(5) Where the duty falling on a trade union under section 32 to send to the Certification Officer a return relating to its affairs is treated as discharged by the union by virtue of subsection (2) or (4) of this section, the duties imposed by section 32A in relation to the return shall be treated as duties of the branch or section of the union, or the trade union of which it is a branch or section, by which that duty is in fact discharged.",
  "extent": "E+W+S",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in s. 44(2)(4) substituted (1.1.1994) by 1993 c. 19, s. 49(2), Sch. 8 para. 44(a); S.I. 1993/1908, art. 2(3), Sch. 3"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in s. 44(4) inserted (6.4.2015 with application in accordance with art. 3 of the commencing S.I.) by Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014 (c. 4), ss. 40(3), 45(1)(c); S.I. 2015/717, art. 3(1)(a)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in s. 44(4) inserted (30.1.2014 for specified purposes, 6.4.2015 in so far as not already in force and with application in accordance with art. 3 of the commencing S.I.) by Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014 (c. 4), ss. 41(4), 45(3)(c); S.I. 2015/717, art. 3(1)(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "S. 44(5) inserted (1.1.1994) by 1993 c. 19, s. 49(2), Sch. 8 para. 44(b); S.I. 1993/1908, art. 2(3), Sch.3"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1992/52/section/44",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:35:34.194369+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}