Multilateral Agreement on Investment

HC Deb 20 July 1998 vol 316 cc398-9W

Mr. Chaytor

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the implications for human rights of the Multilateral Agreement on Investment. [50763]

Mr. Tony Lloyd

The purpose of the Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI) is to prevent discrimination against investors on the grounds of their nationality. The Government are pressing for clauses in the MAI which will prevent countries attracting specific investments by lowering environment and labour standards. We do not believe that the MAI will have any adverse effect on human rights, nor will it prevent the Government from pursuing their human rights agenda.