§ Sir Alastair GoodladTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has received from non-Governmental organisations about the Multilateral Agreement on Investment; and if she will make a statement. [36980]
§ Clare ShortThere have been ongoing consultations with NGOs by Government Ministers and officials on the Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI). My right hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development met NGO representatives on Thursday 26 March to discuss the findings of the recently published report commissioned by the Department for International Development on the development implications of the MAI.
§ Sir Alastair GoodladTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has made to the OECD about the Multilateral Investment Agreement; and if she will make a statement. [36837]
§ Clare ShortThe Government are engaged as a negotiating party in discussion of the Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI) in the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), on which the Department of Trade and Industry leads. My Department is fully engaged in this process. The report commissioned by the Department for International Development on the development implications of the MAI, which has been placed in the libraries of both 373W Houses, will be made available to our negotiating partners. I will be making a response for the Government shortly.
§ Sir Alastair GoodladTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has received from business sources about the Multilateral Agreement on Investment; and if she will make a statement. [36836]
§ Clare ShortConsultation with business sources is part of the Government's ongoing process of consultations on the Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI) with all interested parties. The Business and Industry Advisory Committee of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has also been regularly consulted during the negotiations. My Department's particular concern is that the interests of developing countries should be protected and, if possible, enhanced by the MAI.
§ Sir Alastair GoodladTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the impact multilateral investment agreements will have on poorer developing countries; and how that impact will be reflected in her Department's policies. [37006]
§ Clare ShortI have placed copies of the report that my Department commissioned on the development implications of the Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI) in the Libraries of both Houses. We welcome the conclusion that accession to the MAI could offer substantial opportunities for developing countries. The report contains a number of specific recommendations. We are now studying these and other issues raised in the report urgently.
§ Sir Alastair GoodladTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has received from the TUC about the Multilateral Agreement on Investment; and if she will make a statement. [36838]
§ Clare ShortConsultation with the TUC is part of the Government's ongoing process of consultations on the Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI) with all interested parties. The Trade Union Advisory Committee of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has also been regularly consulted during the negotiations. My Department's particular concern is that the interests of developing countries should be protected and, if possible, enhanced by the MAI.