§ Mr. BattleTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the GATS consultation process will include publication of the text of the requests made(a) by and (b) of the EU. [67595]
§ Ms HewittNo. We do intend to publish a consultative document this autumn that seeks views on the requests that have been made of the EC and member states, to the extent that these affect the United Kingdom. And a summary of the EC's requests to other WTO members has already been put on the DTI and European Commission websites http://www.dti.gov.uk/worldtrade/service.htm and http:// europa.eu.int/comm/trade/services/gats_sum.htm. But we will not be publishing the texts of the requests.
It is important for coherence that the European Commission and member states operate on the same basis. Commissioner Lamy has indicated in a recent reply to an open letter from a number of civil society organisations, "It is my aim to be as transparent as possible with all stakeholders, but an appropriate balance must be struck between transparency and our ability to negotiate in an atmosphere conducive to frank and open discussions. I believe that an appropriate balance has been struck and that there are ample opportunities for all interested parties to provide meaningful input if they so desire." (The full text of this letter can be found at http:// europa.eu.int/comm/trade/services/plreply.htm.)
We must also respect the confidentiality that other WTO members require of us in relation to their own requests of the EC and member states.
§ Mr. BattleTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, in the GATS negotiations, a country may reverse the commitment at any stage after committing a service sector to be liberalised under GATS; and if she will make a statement. [67594]
§ Ms HewittAny WTO member may modify or withdraw any liberalisation commitment it has listed in its GATS schedule of commitments, in accordance with the time limits and other provisions of Articles XXI and X of the Agreement.
§ Mr. BattleTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the GATS consultation process will include consideration of its impact on development; and if she will make a statement. [67592]
§ Ms HewittMy Department's consultation on the GATS negotiations will primarily concern the requests which the European Community will receive from other trading partners and the potential economic and legislative impact on the United Kingdom from meeting such requests. However, we have frequently said that we fully recognise the importance of the development dimension to these negotiations and will certainly cover this in our consultation.
§ Mr. BattleTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what negotiating requests the EU is making of other countries and trading blocs in the GATS1090W negotiations; if the development effects are considered before requests are made; and if the record of that consideration is publicly available. [67599]
§ Ms HewittI refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for South Swindon (Ms Drown) on 8 July 2002,Official Report, columns 671–72W.
§ Mr. BattleTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she plans to meet the Local Government Association to discuss GATE; and if she will make a statement. [67593]
§ Ms HewittMy officials are already in contact with the Local Government Association over a meeting to discuss the GATS negotiations and are currently awaiting their confirmation of a mutually convenient date. However, on 8 May the Local Government Information Bureau did attend a meeting of the Trade Policy Consultative Forum chaired by my right hon. noble Friend, Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean, the focus of which was the GATS negotiations. The LGA were invited to that meeting also, but were unable to attend.