§ 66. Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Employment what action his Department has taken to encourage the development of co-operatives.
§ Mr. CopeCo-operatives can benefit from a number of schemes introduced by the Government to help and encourage small businesses, such as the loan guarantee scheme and the enterprise allowance scheme. In addition, the National Co-operative Development Agency. which is sponsored by this Department, seeks to stimulate the growth of co-operatives by providing help and advice to co-operatives and to people wishing to set up such enterprises. The number of co-operatives has increased from 300 in 1980 to more than 1,500 at present.