EDINBORO, Scotland–Angela Constance, Scotland’s cabinet secretary for communities, social security and equalities, has reiterated her government’s support for credit unions at a cross-party meeting here.
Constance highlighted the key role credit unions play in “building a fairer Scotland” and acting as a grassroots movement. She said the government encourages more employers to enter partnerships with credit unions so their staff can save and repay affordable loans via payroll deductions, according to Cooperative News.
The minister also talked about the government’s funding for junior savers program in schools, and said the project was a result of engagement with credit union representatives and learning about the costs of such projects.
Matt Bland, head of policy with the Association of British Credit Unions, Ltd., also spoke to the meeting and said afterward, “It was good to see such a great turnout – not only of credit union activists at the parliament, but also the wide range of stakeholders and supportive organizations who came along to discuss the contribution credit unions make to Scotland,” Cooperative News reported. “It was hugely encouraging to hear the minister reiterate the Scottish government’s backing for our movement, and we look forward to achieving more of the objectives of our credit union charter in the coming years as we seek to make Scotland a credit union nation.”