HC Deb 20 October 2003 vol 411 cc451-2W
Mr. Gibb

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her oral statement of 17 September 2003,Official Report, columns 861–67, on the WTO Ministerial Conference, what assessment she has made of the role of NGOs in the collapse of the World Trade Organisations talks. [131957]

Ms Hewitt

The NGO community played an important role in the run-up to Cancun and at the WTO Ministerial-Conference. As I said in my statement to the House on 17 September, I warmly welcomed the UK Trade Network participation at Cancun.

The Government will continue to work with NGOs, and developing country members of the WTO, to ensure that this is a true 'development' round and that trade rules are improved to benefit the world's poorest people.

Mr. Steen

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she will reply in full to the letter from the hon. Member for Totnes dated 24 July 2003 concerning the World Trade Organisation negotiations in Cancun. [132591]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

A reply was sent out on 15 October 2003.