INDUSTRIAL AND PROVIDENT SOCIETIES BILL

That this House believes that social enterprises - businesses that are accountable to their members and the communities in which they operate - could play a major role in the delivery of a range of services to the public; welcomes the Second Reading given to the Industrial and Provident Societies Bill, which will provide a strong and stable framework within which these mutual organisations could grow and prosper, on a level playing field with other businesses; and calls on the Government to ensure that the Bill represents a pragmatic mechanism to facilitate a proper overhaul of Industrial and Provident legislation.