HC Deb 12 February 1998 vol 306 cc394-5W
Ms Drown

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations she has received from British companies in support of the Multilateral Agreement on Investment. [28818]

Mrs. Roche

My officials are in contact with representatives of the CBI and ICC-UK (International Chambers of Commerce) as well as other business representatives. They have been generally supportive of the Government's approach.

Mr. Matthew Taylor

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will convene a meeting of Ministers of her Department, the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, the Treasury and the Department for International Development to discuss the Multilateral Agreement on Investment in advance of the meeting of OECD Ministers on 16 and 17 February. [29024]

Mrs. Roche

The UK objectives for the MAI negotiations have been discussed extensively among the Departments mentioned and others. Officials have consulted closely over preparations for the 16–17 February meeting. Further consultations will be necessary as we approach the final phase of the negotiations in the spring.

Mr. Matthew Taylor

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many meetings of officials from her Department have attended meetings on the subject of the Multilateral Agreement on Investment at which there were(a) only officials from the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, (b) only officials from the Department for International Development, (c) only officials from the Treasury and (d) officials from the Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, the Department for International Development and the Treasury. [29025]

Mrs. Roche

My officials in the International Investment Policy Unit have been in constant contact with officials from all Government Departments with an interest in the Multilateral Agreement on Investment, and have held meetings on numerous occasions at which officials from a number of other Government Departments have been present.