Scotland has a long and rich history of promoting co-operation but it is important that Scotland has a strong co-operative future. I believe that co-operatives can empower communities right across Scotland. There are over 600 co-operatives in Scotland contributing over £4bn to the Scottish Economy.

These co-operatives are found right across the country and in just about every sector of the economy. Both Glasgow and Edinburgh have co-operative councils promoting the co-operative model whenever they can. The Scottish Government promotes co-operatives through Co-operative Development Scotland an organisation founded by a Scottish Labour & Co-operative led Scottish administration.

Both in local government and at Scottish Government level so much more could be done to promote co-operatives. That is one of the reasons why I have tabled a motion in the Scottish Parliament to mark Co-operatives Fortnight. Co-operatives Fortnight runs from 20 June – 4 July and is an opportunity to celebrate co-operatives and also think about how we could promote them more. We must value the difference that co-operatives can make to Scotland.