§ 9. Mr. Hamlingasked the Minister of Overseas Development what has been the outcome of the discussions which have taken place between her Department and the International Co-operative Alliance on stimulating co-operative enterprises in overseas territories.
§ Mr. OramIn its programme for assisting co-operative enterprises overseas, my Department receives very valuable help from our Advisory Committee on Cooperatives under the chairmanship of Lord Peddie, through which we maintain wide and close contact with the British Co-operative movement. This movement in turn is closely associated with the International Co-operative Alliance and it is by this chain of contacts that co-operation is assured. We have had no specific discussions on the subject in question directly with the Alliance.
§ Mr. Ioan L. EvansWould my hon. Friend agree that a great deal of encouragement should be given to the development of co-operative organisations in the under-developed areas, not only because this would play a great part in raising standards, because profits are returned to them, but also because, by administering their own affairs, they would realise the importance of democracy?
§ Mr. OramWe arc very much aware of both those aspects of the benefits to be derived from co-operative development, which is why we give pride of place to co-operative development, as I have indicated.