§ Lord Juddasked Her Majesty's Government:
What specific arrangements have been made to ensure that developing countries (including both the poorest and the smallest developing countries) have a full and meaningful part in the negotiations at the OECD on the proposed Multilateral Agreement on Investment and to endeavour to ensure that the outcome will be demonstrably as much in the interests of developing countries as those of multinational companies and the industrial world.
§ The Minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Clinton-Davis)Events have been held in Latin America, Africa and Asia as well as at the OECD in Paris to inform and involve developing countries in the MAI. I believe that the MAI represents an opportunity and not a threat for developed and developing countries alike.
§ Lord Juddasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will ensure that the proposed Multilateral Agreement on Investment is scrutinised and debated in Parliament before any commitments are made by them in the OECD negotiations.
§ Lord Clinton-DavisThe MAI will be subject to standard parliamentary procedures for treaties. It will also receive the additional scrutiny required for European Community business, as the EC will be a signatory to the MAI.
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§ Lord Juddasked Her Majesty's Government:
What arrangements have been made to ensure that the British negotiating position in the OECD negotiations on the proposed Multilateral Agreement on Investment is kept in line both with the policy objectives set out in the recent White Paper entitled Eliminating World Poverty and with the commitments made at the recent Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Edinburgh.
§ Lord Clinton-DavisMy department, which leads on the MAI, remains in constant contact with all relevant government departments in order to ensure that the UK's negotiating position remains consistent with overall government policy.