§ Mr. Geraint Howellsasked the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he is taking to encourage the establishment of worker co-operatives in Wales; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsCo-operatives receive encouragement from a number of sources, including the Welsh Development Agency and the Development Board for Rural Wales. They are eligible for all types of Government assistance available in Wales to industry generally. Moreover, the Co-operative Development Agency and a number of organisations supported by local authorities, some under urban programme arrangements, provide advisory services tailored to the needs of co-operatives and the industrial common ownership fund administered by the Department of Industry provides small loans. I have also recently provided support for research study by the Wales TUC into the potential of co-operatives for alleviating unemployment.