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<p>This Government recognises the value of co-operatives and other mutually owned
businesses. The Government’s policy is to maintain a level playing field between co-operatives
and other legal forms.</p><p> </p><p>In 2014, the coalition government introduced
a number of measures to support the co-operative sector, including consolidating all
the existing laws, to make it easier for societies to understand and apply the legislative
framework and the rules governing them. The coalition government also simplified the
electronic registration process to help new societies start up.</p><p> </p><p>In February
2018 the Government brought forward a measure to bring audit requirements for small
co-operatives into line with those for small companies. This measure came into force
on 6 April, and will save growing societies thousands of pounds in auditors’ fees
that companies of the same size do not have to pay.</p><p><strong> </strong></p>
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