P, Q and R

PASC
Performance and Accounting Standards Committee. Sub-committee of Co-operatives UK which oversees the implementation of International Accounting Standards within UK Co-operative enterprises and makes recommendations on the Key Performance Indicators which Co-operatives UK measures its members' performance against. See www.cooperatives-uk.coop/performancereview

The Phone Co-op
A Consumer Co-op set up in the late 1990s to bulk buy telecoms services on behalf of a group of Co-ops, Charities and Social Enterprises. Now open to individual members and customers. Operates an affinity scheme with groups ranging from the Co-op Party to the Vegan Society whereby that organisation will get the dividend that would have been earned by those of its members who choose to buy the Phone Co-op's services through the scheme. See www.thephone.coop

'Plymouth'
Plymouth and South West Co-operative Society trades primarily in south and west Devon. It turns over c.£160M per year. See www.psw.coop

'Port sea Island'
Former name of Southern Co-operatives - see 'Southern'.

The 'Progressives'
A term usually applied to members of the NFPC. However, in several Societies over the years the word 'progressive' has been adopted by, or applied to, that body of interest within the membership and boardroom that favours a pro-active approach to development, an active membership, and taking a lead in campaigning on consumer issues.

Queen Eleanor
Co-partnership society manufacturing and distributing staff uniforms.  See www.queeneleanor.co.uk (Established in 1887 as the Kettering Corset Co-operative Society).

RACS
The old Royal Arsenal Co-operative Society which traded in South East London and merged with the CWS in 1985. Was the only Society to conduct its election by the Single Transferable Vote for of Proportional Representation, to have the Society Secretary elected by the membership, and to have a Political Committee on which members of any political party or none could sit and have a say in the spending of the Society's political fund.

RCC
Regional Co-operative Councils. Mirror the boundaries for regional government and represent Co-operatives in those areas. See Co-operatives East.

RDC
Regional Distribution Centre.

Rochdale Pioneers
The Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers are often credited incorrectly with being the first Consumer Co-op. They drew on the experience of others to develop a set of rules for their society - established in 1844 -including the payment of dividend on purchases, the establishment of a fund for education, cash trading only (i.e. no credit), and political and religious neutrality. These became known as the 'Rochdale Principles' and their widespread adoption allowed the Movement to spread quickly and avoid many of the problems that had led to the failure of earlier Co-ops.