OECD: Multilateral Agreement on Investment

HL Deb 28 January 1998 vol 585 cc45-6WA

Lord Alderdice

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether a social and environmental audit of the OECD's multilateral agreement on investment will be carried out prior to the treaty being signed. [HL204]

The Minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Clinton-Davis)

The UK—proposed environmental review of the MAI by the OECD is making good progress. The first part consisted of an overview of recent literature on this topic. It provides a thorough analysis which will help all parties interested in the MAI understand better how international investment interacts with the environment. This report is available on the Internet. A further note by the OECD secretariat on the relationship between the MAI and selected multilateral environmental agreements has recently been completed and is under discussion by MAI negotiators. The Department for International Development is commissioning a study to look at any implications the MAI may have for developing countries, and has agreed to make to make the results available to our negotiating partners.