Co-operatives

HC Deb 09 February 1994 vol 237 cc240-1W

Mr. McMaster

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to encourage the development of retail, wholesale and manufacturing co-operatives.

Mr. Tim Smith

LEDU, Northern Ireland's small business agency, plans to continue to encourage such activities through its community business programme which provides a package of grant aid as well as loan funding.

In addition, the Northern Ireland Co-operative Development Agency (NICDA), which is funded by Government, encourages the development of worker co-operatives, service co-operatives, community enterprises and employee share ownership plans, through a range of services.