44 Discharge of duties in case of union having branches or sections.E+W+S
(1)The following provisions apply where a trade union consists of or includes branches or sections.
(2)Any duty falling upon the union in relation to a branch or section under the provisions of—
section 28 (duty to keep accounting records),
sections 32 to 37 (annual return, accounts and audit), or
sections 38 to 42 (members’ superannuation schemes),
shall be treated as discharged to the extent to which a branch or section discharges it instead of the union.
(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.
(4)Any duty falling upon a branch or section by reason of its being a trade union under—
section 24 (register of members’ names and addresses),
section 28 (duty to keep accounting records),
sections 32 to 37 (annual return, accounts and audit), or
section 38 to 42 (members’ superannuation schemes),
shall 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.