Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to improve access to finance for people wishing to set up co-operatives.

The Government is committed to removing barriers to the sustainable growth of the co-operative and mutuals sector, including barriers to accessing finance.

Co-operatives and mutuals can access British Business Bank-backed Start Up Loans and the Growth Guarantee Scheme, while Community ENABLE Funding supports community development finance institutions serving co-operatives, social enterprises and other underserved businesses.

The Department will also shortly be publishing its response to the call for evidence on business support co-operatives and non-financial mutuals.