asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many worker co-operatives there were in each of the past five years.

According to figures produced by the Co-operative Development Agency there were 305 and 498 worker co-operatives in being in the years 1980 and 1982 respectively. No information is available for the years 1978, 1979 and 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what are the main areas of economic activities covered by worker co-operatives; and what information he has as to the number of people working in them.

The main areas of economic activity covered by worker co-operatives, together with the approximate number of people working in them, are as follows:

	Numbers
Distribution	1,630
Printing and Publishing	820
Chemicals	510
Textiles	500
Footwear	490
Building	420
Engineering	370
Electronics	350
Catering	130

The total number of people in these sectors is 5,220 which represents 82 per cent. of the total number of people engaged in worker co-operatves.