§ Mr. ChaytorTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if it is Her Majesty's Government's policy to support the eight elements of an ideal result as outlined in the European Commission Note from Directorate General I to the Article 113 Committee on investment and the World Trade Organisation; and if he will make a statement; [71755]
(2) if her Majesty's Government supports the Investor-State Dispute Settlement set out in the European Commission Note from Directorate General I to the Article 113 Committee on investment and the World Trade Organisation; and if he will make a statement; [71753]
(3) if Her Majesty's Government have asked the European Commission to redraft the leaked Note from Directorate General I to the Article 113 Committee on investment and the World Trade Organisation; and if he will make a statement; [71756]
(4) if Her Majesty's Government have objected to the contents of the European Commission Note from Directorate General I to the Article 113 Committee on investment and the World Trade Organisation; and if he will make a statement. [71754]
§ Ms DrownTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the European Commission Note from DG1 to the Article 113 committee on investment in the World Trade Organisation. [72249]
§ Mr. WilsonIt is the Government's policy, shared by our EU partners, that the meeting of World Trade Organisation Ministers in Seattle later this year should lead to a comprehensive new "Round" of WTO negotiations, and that investment should be included on the agenda. However, the Government's policy is that any investment negotiation must be based around a new set of objectives, derived by consensus. We are in the process of consulting with all interested groups within the UK on what the Government's objectives for a new negotiation might be. As part of our general consultations over the UK' s objectives for the new "Round". I am convening a series of meetings including other Ministers, NGOs, TUs and business organisations. No conclusions have been reached on the inclusion or exclusion of an investor-state dispute settlement mechanism, or indeed on any other individual issue.
The European Commission circulated an internal discussion paper on possible elements of a WTO investment agreement to Member States on 15 December 1998, with a view to stimulating discussion within the EU. The paper does not represent the views of the UK 202W Government. The UK has called for a discussion of the paper by EU investment experts, but such a discussion has not yet taken place.
§ Mr. ChaytorTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for what reasons Chapters E and F were omitted from the publicly released European Commission Note from Directorate General I to the Article 113 Committee on Investment and the WTO; and if will make a statement. [72056]
§ Mr. Wilson[holding answer 22 February 1999]The Note was issued by the European Commission and its contents are a matter for them. However, I have drawn their attention to my hon. Friend's interest and have asked them to respond directly to him.