§ Mrs. HumbleTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he has taken to promote and implement the revise d OECD Guidelines for multinational enterprises in the United Kingdom. [156080]
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§ Mr. CabornThe UK Government are committed to promoting both the use of the Guidelines and their effective implementation. Primary responsibility for promoting and implementing the Guidelines in the UK rests with the UK National Contact Point, based within the Department of Trade and Industry, but working in liaison with other Government Departments and interested bodies.
The UK NCP has undertaken a number of activities to promote the Guidelines including the launching today of a booklet explaining its role and the Guidelines more generally. This is being distributed to relevant organisations and is available free of charge from DTI Publications. Copies have also been placed in the Libraries of the House.
In addition, a website has been established, www.dti.gov.uk/worldtrade/ukncp.htm . The NCP has already held meetings with UK business, trade unions, and other non-governmental organisations and will continue to do so.
Future activities include the production of a publicly available Annual Report covering the activities of the UK NCP; using Government contact with business at all levels to promote the Guidelines and the UK Government's support for them; and contributing to OECD efforts to raise awareness in non-adhering countries.
This is in addition to its main task of responding to any inquiries or concerns about the activities of Multinational Enterprises raised with the NCP.