Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies (Environmentally Sustainable Investment) Bill

Debate between Dehenna Davison and Peter Gibson

2nd reading & 2nd reading: House of Commons
Friday 11th September 2020 Commons Chamber

[Dehenna Davison (Bishop Auckland) (Con)]

Co-operatives UK produced a report in 2019 which said that the north-east has the highest number of co-operatives per head of population. Does my hon. Friend agree that getting the policy on co-operatives right is even more vital for the north-east and the areas that he and I represent?

[Peter Gibson]

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for her intervention. She is a strong champion for all that is great about the north-east, and I welcome her contribution.

I recognise the phenomenal contribution of co-operatives to our diverse economy. However, I cannot support this Bill. My hon. Friend the Member for Christchurch (Sir Christopher Chope) got to the nub of the issue—this is not a green Bill; it is a Bill to change the laws around co-ops to the detriment of their members.