Journal of Co-operative Studies, 34(1), 37-43

Abstract.

This paper examines the origin of the definition of an industrial and provident society in section 1(2) of the Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1965 (IPSA). It argues that its legislative history and the development of co-operative principles in the twentieth century displays an evolution towards a wider and more flexible definition of co-operative and mutual enterprises with implications for the law reform advocated in a number of the recommendations of the Co-operative Commission Report of February 2001. The paper is one of three papers presented to a seminar on 'Co-operative opportunities' on March 1, 2001in Manchester. The two other papers by Roger Jones and Cliff Mills are also included in this issue.