Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1974

31 (1) Regulations may make provision—

(a) for enabling members of trade unions who are not under sixteen years of age to nominate a person or persons to become entitled, on the death of the person making the nomination, to the whole or part of any money payable on his death out of the funds of the trade union of which he is a member ; and

(b) for enabling any money payable out of the funds of a trade union on the death of a member of the trade union, to an amount not exceeding £500, to be paid or distributed on his death (whether in accordance with such a nomination or otherwise) without letters of administration, probate of any will or confirmation.

(2) Any regulations made in accordance with sub-paragraph (1)(a) above—

(a) may include provision as to the manner in which nominations may be made and as to the manner in which nominations may be varied or revoked, and

(b) may provide that, subject to such exceptions as may be prescribed, no nomination made by a member of a trade union shall be valid if at the date of the nomination the person nominated is an officer or employee of the trade union or is otherwise connected with the trade union in such manner as may be prescribed by the regulations.

(3) Any regulations under this section may include such incidental, transitional or supplementary provisions as the Secretary of State may consider appropriate and, in particular, any such regulations made in accordance with sub-paragraph (1)(a) above may include provision for securing, to such extent and subject to such conditions as may be prescribed in the regulations, that nominations made under the [1876 c. 22.] Trade Union Act Amendment Act 1876 shall have effect as if they have been made under the regulations and may be varied or revoked accordingly.

(4) The Secretary of State may by order made by statutory instrument direct that, in relation to deaths occurring after the end of the period of one month beginning with the date on which the order comes into force, sub-paragraph (1)(b) above shall have effect as if, for the reference to £500, there were substituted a reference to such higher amount as may be specified in the order.

(5) No order shall be made under sub-paragraph (4) above unless a draft of the order has been laid before Parliament and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.