§ Mr. Wrigglesworthasked the Secretary of State for Industry when he now expects to be able to make an announcement about future Government funding of the Co-operative Development Agency and the Industrial Common Ownership Movement.
§ Mr. MacGregorA draft order, subject to affirmative resolution, was laid before the House on Wednesday 24 June to enable the agency to continue for a further period, with funding on a considerably reduced scale. This will give it more time to prove its value, to improve its effectiveness and to become financially independent of Government. The Government have made it clear that they are not committed to support the agency with public funds beyond those contained in the order.
A statement on funding of the Industrial Common Ownership Movement was made by my predecessor on 10 November 1980—[Vol. 992, c. 56–57]—in reply to a question from the hon. Member for Lambeth, Central (Mr. Tilley).