Mr. John Shine:

We are aware of the situation relating to asset locks. We are aware that some areas of the co-operative sector are very keen on having asset locks. That is facilitated by their being able to provide for that in their rules, if they so wish. There are some co-ops that simply have no interest in an asset lock and that would consider it to be as a considerable fetter on their activity. For those co-ops that want to have an asset lock in order to try to future-proof themselves, they can absolutely do that within their rules. It is a democratic decision of the members to provide for an asset lock, if they so wish, and to provide whatever protections they want around that.