Commentary on provisions of Act Schedule 4: Minor and consequential amendments
The amendment made by paragraph 13 has particular significance for sections 2 and 3. Under the Act as amended by those sections, it is essential to know how many people voted in the ballot. This raises the question whether a person who returns a spoiled or blank ballot paper counts as someone who has voted. The amendment made by paragraph 13 is intended to remove any doubt about this and to establish that spoiled or blank ballots do count.
	Paragraphs 3 to 9 set out the minor and consequential amendments as a result of the change to a requirement to opt into a political fund. The changes are in the following provisions:
restriction on use of funds for political objects (section 71 of the 1992 Act);
rules as to political fund (section 82 of the 1992 Act);
employers not to deduct contributions where member gives certificate (section 86 of the 1992 Act);
overseas members of trade unions (section 94 of the 1992 Act);
federated trade unions (section 118 of the 1992 Act)
federated employers’ associations (section 135 of the 1992 Act); and
Effect of amalgamation (section 93 of the 1992 Act)
	Paragraphs 10 to 12 set out the minor and consequential amendments to the provisions in the 1992 Act concerning balloting to take account of the new provisions in the Act for ballots and information requirements. The changes are in the following provisions:
requirement of ballot before action by trade union (section 226 of the 1992 Act);
calling of industrial action with support of ballot (section 233 of the 1992 Act);
period after which ballot ceases to be effective (section 234 of the 1992 Act).
	The other amendments in this Schedule are consequential on other provisions of the Act or are minor amendments that do not actually alter the law.