§ Lord Juddasked Her Majesty's Government:
In what respects the proposed negotiating position of the European Union on the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) will advance the well-being of the world's poor. [HL4189]
§ The Minister for Trade (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean)Services are in urgent need of improvement in many developing countries, particularly infrastructure services such as telecommunications, distribution, water and financial services. Better services would provide support for those countries' manufacturing and agricultural activities and improve their export potential. Developing countries recognise the important part that services can play in the context of broader multilateral trade negotiations and are supporting this important part of the Doha development agenda.