§ Mr. ChaytorTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent consultations she has had with local authorities on the negotiations regarding the Multilateral Agreement on Investment. [50759]
§ Mrs. RocheOfficials from this Department, HM Treasury, and the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, have met the Local742W Government Association's international bureau, and my noble Friend the Minister for Trade has exchanged correspondence with them as well as with many local authorities. My right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment recently addressed the LGA's environment and regeneration board, and discussed the multilateral agreement on investment. In addition, there have been numerous letters to Ministers from local authorities, as well as letters and other informal contacts with officials. Our view is that no current lawful local government practice will be affected by the MAI.
§ Mr. ChaytorTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what research her Department has commissioned on the impact of the Multilateral Agreement on Investment on(a) restrictive trade practices and (b) consumers in the United Kingdom. [50760]
§ Mrs. RocheWe have not commissioned any such research.
The UK already has an open and liberal economy, and has benefited greatly from the inward investment we have attracted as a result. If the multilateral agreement on investment increases inward investment even further, we would expect this to lead to increased competition and hence benefits for consumers. The UK and EU regulatory framework for competition policy exists to deal with anti-competitive behaviour.