Written question asked by Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 25 March 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 12 April 2002. It was answered by Patricia Hewitt (Labour) on Friday, 12 April 2002 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Dept of Trade and Industry

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, which services the United Kingdom will (a) as part of the European Union and (b) unilaterally be offering for liberalisation under the World Trade Organisation's General Agreement on Trade in Services.

Answer: Mr. Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which services the United Kingdom will (a) as part of the European Union and (b) unilaterally be offering for liberalisation under the World Trade Organisation's General Agreement on Trade in Services. [47416] Ms Hewitt: The United Kingdom negotiates in the World Trade Organisation as part of the European Union. Offers of liberalisation of services will be considered in the light of requests received from other WTO Members. The Doha Ministerial Declaration set June 2002 as the date for the submission of initial requests. The Government will consult on any offer it is minded to make as part of the EU's offer. Liberalisation is, however, a matter of domestic policy choice. The current negotiations under the General Agreement on Trade in Services cannot force liberalisation where we do not wish it.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 47416; 383 c638W;383 c635-6W
Session: 2001-02
Subjects: EU action Trade Trade agreements Service industries World Trade Organization Free trade General Agreement on Trade in Services
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk