§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much money his Department has set aside for aiding the development of co-operatives in the present financial year; and how much of the money has been allocated or granted to(a) the United Kingdom Co-operative Council, (b) other organisations concerned with the promotion or development of co-operatives and (c) directly to co-operatives in the form of pump-priming grants.
Mr. JacksonThe amount available to support innovative projects in the co-operative sector is up to the amount that might otherwise have been spent in maintaining the Co-operative Development Agency until 1993; that is, up to £300,000 per annum.
In the present financial year £45,000 has been allocated to the United Kingdom Co-operative Council. No further sums have been allocated at present, but the Department is considering proposals from a number of organisations.