Written question asked by Jim Cunningham (Labour) on Wednesday, 11 June 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 20 June 2003. It was answered by Patricia Hewitt (Labour) on Friday, 20 June 2003 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, if she will make a statement on (a) the GATS negotiations and (b) the advantages of full trade liberalisation as a means to achieving development goals. - Inc figures; (Holding answer 18 June 2003).

Answer: Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on (a) the GATS negotiations and (b) the advantages of full trade liberalisation as a means to achieving development goals. [119588] Ms Hewitt: [holding answer 18 June 2003]: The Government are working to ensure that GATS offers real benefits both to the UK, as the world's second largest exporter of services, and to developing country members of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). We believe that the progressive, properly managed, liberalisation of services can stimulate economic growth and help reduce poverty. The World Bank estimates that a liberalising trade round could bring 300 million people out of poverty by 2015. Developing countries could increase their annual income by up to $60 billion for a relatively modest degree of services liberalisation. This is greater than total annual aid flows to developing countries ($50 billion).

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 119588; 407 c496-7W;407 c498W
Session: 2002-03
Subjects: Developing countries Trade Trade agreements Free trade General Agreement on Trade in Services
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk