'Co-operatives are important' says Scottish Parliament. The rhetoric has been backed up with solid support for a Scottish Co-operative Development Agency (CDA), reports Martin Meteyard, Chair of Co-operation & Mutuality Scotland.

Hopes are high for a Co-operative Development Agency in Scotland, following recent publication of a public consultation document on the issue. To underline its importance, the document was launched by the First Minister of Scotland, Jack McConnell MSP. "We can do more to realise the potential co-ops have to contribute to our economic, social and community well-being. That is why I am committed to working with the co-operative movement to help release that potential for the benefit to our social well-being and to Scotland as a whole," he said. "I am determined that co-operatives should get the encouragement they need to play a bigger role in modern Scotland.

"Co-operatives add value not just in purely economic terms, but in the way they promote democratic ownership and empower ordinary people to achieve common aims. That role is important to the fabric of our society - any society - and it should not be overlooked." (Jack McConnell MSP)

"Co-operatives add value not just in purely economic terms, but in the way they promote democratic ownership and empower ordinary people to achieve common aims. That role is important to the fabric of our society - any society - and it should not be overlooked." (Jack McConnell MSP)

The document draws on experience from other countries - notably the Mondragon co-ops in the Basque country of Spain. It also identifies some immediate opportunities where CDA support could make a real difference, in areas such as care provision, leisure services, renewable energy, broadband access, and waste management and recycling.

As part of the process, Employee Ownership Scotland hosted a visit by John Logue of the Ohio Employee Ownership Centre in the USA. It is expected that Scotland could have a CDA as early as the first half of 2005.

The complete consultation document is available from: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/consultations/enterprise/codac-00.asp

Full article: http://www.newsector.co.uk/articles/62cdascot.htm