Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stephen Doughty and Patrick Hurley

Tuesday 1st April 2025 Commons Chamber

[Patrick Hurley (Southport) (Lab)]

T3.   The co-operative movement has a long and proud history of helping to rebuild local economies post-conflict. In this UN International Year of Co-Operatives, will the Minister agree to meet me and representatives of the co-operative movement to discuss the ways in which Governments can promote co-operation as a solution on the global stage?

[The Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Stephen Doughty)]

I would be delighted to meet my hon. Friend and his colleagues, not least as a Co-operative MP. I have seen the important work that co-operatives do around the world, and we continue to support them, including by funding the global agriculture and food security programme, which has a dedicated support facility for smallholder producer organisations. We regularly meet those who are involved in co-operative solutions on a range of matters, so I would be delighted to discuss those matters with my hon. Friend and other colleagues.