---

WTO Conference (Hong Kong)

I do not agree. I certainly feel that some member states were making life difficult and will need to have a complete rethink about their approach if we are to reach a successful conclusion, but I am absolutely sure that all member states want a successful round and none want to be responsible for its failure. There is political pressure in that respect. As for Commissioner Mandelson and Commissioner Fischer Boel, they did sterling work on behalf of the EU last week. They were in a negotiation. It was not an ““Anne of Green Gables”” world in which everyone just says nice things about each other; they had to negotiate a settlement that had the agreement of all their 25 member states, and would then have the agreement of 150 WTO countries. That was a very difficult task. I think that they performed it wonderfully, and I do not think it helps anyone to personalise the issue and apply it to one or two individuals. Incidentally, I should be surprised if members of the hon. Gentleman’s party who were in Hong Kong felt any differently about the work put in by Commissioners to secure a satisfactory outcome.