This local authority notes that there has been little information or data provided by the UK Government to local authorities about the General Agreement on Trade in Services, despite negotiations to expand the agreement being underway. In particular, current EU negotiating priorities are not public and forthcoming information about the negotiating requests made of UK services by other WTO members should be made available. It further notes that to date there has been no independent assessment of its impact. It is therefore concerned that governments are making effectively irreversible commitments, which apply to all levels of government, with little or no real understanding of the impact of these on service provision both domestically or worldwide.
To safeguard meaningful local democracy, this local authority will:
1. Write to the Minister for Local Government, the Rt. Hon. Nick Raynsford, to call for the following action conerning assessment and scope of GATS, and its impact on local government.
Assessment
a. The GATS negotiations should be halted until an independent and thorough
impact assessment of past and proposed measures under GATS and their
likely impact on key services, both in the UK and internationally, is
undertaken.
b. Following the comprehensive assessment and analysis, the Government
should discuss and consult on the findings and the proposals under GATS.
Scope
c. Urgent clarification should be sought about whether public services are
exempt from GATS.
Local Government
d. Any assessment should include an analysis of what restrictions may be
required to allow for flexibility in local decision-making.
e. Local authorities should be made aware of current EU negotiating priorities
and consulted regarding the negotiating requests made of UK services by
other WTO members, where these impact upon local authorities roles, duties
and responsibilities.
2. Write to the Local Government Association requesting that they put pressure on the DTI until the above points have been achieved.
http://www.webalias.com/warwickshiregats
Co-ordinator: Steven Kelk, 72 Brunswick Street, Leamington Spa, CV31 2EQ
skelk@dcs.warwick.ac.uk, 01926 773808