Credit Unions

Part of 2. Questions to the Minister for Economy – in the Senedd at 2:27 pm on 11 May 2022.

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Photo of Mabon ap Gwynfor Mabon ap Gwynfor Plaid Cymru 2:27, 11 May 2022

(Translated)

I thank the Minister for that response. As a Member elected for the Co-operative Party, I thought that you would be particularly interested in credit unions. But, there is an economic purpose to the question too. Credit unions have huge potential in turning around the Welsh economy. Already, they have almost 80,000 members here in Wales, lending £23 million per annum. But this is nowhere near the situation in Ireland, where 61 per cent of the population are members of credit unions. As a result, in Ireland, they can use the power of credit unions to boost the economy. There, the credit union alliance has contributed billions of euros to help the Government build thousands of homes, ensuring jobs in the industry for six years. So, do you believe that credit unions have a role to play in boosting our economy? And what steps can the Government take to ensure that they do play a more central role in developing the Welsh economy?