HC Deb 11 November 1999 vol 337 cc719-20W
Mr. Chaytor

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many members of his Department are deployed in the United Kingdom's mission to the WTO in Geneva; and what are (i) the personnel costs and (ii) the office costs of maintaining them. [98235]

Mr. Byers

The information is not available in the form requested.

Mr. Chaytor

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with developing countries about the forthcoming WTO Seattle Round. [98236]

Mr. Byers

DTI Ministers and officials frequently meet representatives of developing countries and set out the UK's support for the launch at Seattle of a comprehensive new Round of trade negotiations, including a clear development agenda responding to the needs of developing countries, particularly the least developed. This week the Minister for Trade is speaking about the new Round to a business and government audience at the Commonwealth Business Forum in Johannesburg.

Mr. Chaytor

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people will be in the UK's official delegation to the forthcoming Seattle Ministerial Meeting of the WTO; how many of those will be(a) Government officials, (b) Ministers and (c) others; and what the estimated cost is of the UK's participation in the meeting. [98238]

Mr. Byers

The exact composition of the UK Delegation has yet to be determined. I will write to my hon. Friend with the answer shortly.