HL Deb 13 December 2001 vol 629 c230WA
Baroness Miller of Hendon

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the answer by Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 3 December (HL Deb col. 583), what formal or informal understandings were reached with the French Government to induce them to subscribe to the World Trade Organisation declaration of Doha. [HL1895]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean:

All members of the European Union signed up to the Doha Declaration on equal terms. The Government cannot comment on the rationale behind decisions taken by other governments.

Baroness Miller of Hendon

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the comment by Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 3 December (HL Deb col. 583) that the agreement of the agricultural section of the World Trade Organisation Doha declaration "came more readily from some than others", which signatories were the most reluctant to sign. [HL1897]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean:

The agreement reached in Doha constitutes a balanced package of commitments reflecting the full range of interests held by the 142 members of the WTO. Individual members naturally had differing attitudes to particular parts of the whole. It would be inappropriate for the Government to speak for other named governments on their attitude to parts of the declaration.