Co-operative Development Agency

HC Deb 18 July 1989 vol 157 cc172-3W

112. Mr. Turner

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he will be announcing his plans for the future of the Co-operative Development Agency.

Mr. Cope

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham, West (Mr. Maples) on 13 July at columns581–82.

115. Mr. Michael

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to develop and encourage the work currently undertaken by the Co-operative Development Agency.

Mr. Cope

The Co-operative Development Agency has done good work in supporting and advising co-operatives but much of this is now carried out by other support bodies. Consequently, as I announced in a reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham, West (Mr. Maples) on 13 July, the Government have decided not to extend the life of the CDA when the ceiling of grant available to support it is reached.

The agency has also played a role in co-ordinating and representing the interests of the co-operative movement as a whole. We believe that it is for co-operative organisations themselves to determine their future needs and arrangements in this respect.