§ Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health whether provisions under the proposed GATS will affect decisions over the provider of publicly financed health services; and if he will make a statement. [90041]
§ Mr. HuttonGeneral Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) cannot prevent Governments from regulating to meet national policy objectives. These rights are enshrined in GATS itself and repeated in negotiating guidelines for current negotiations. The Government has made clear to the House in the past that we have no intention of making GATS commitments that could call into question our ability to continue providing public services such as health or education.