§ 8. Mr. Patrick Jenkinasked the President of the Board of Trade what provision he intends to make, in view of the impending transfer of the Patent Office to a new site in Croydon, for the holding of hearings at some convenient place near the Law Courts in the Strand.
§ The Minister of State, Board of Trade (Mr. George Darling)None, Sir. Croydon is readily accessible from central London.
§ Mr. JenkinDoes the right hon. Gentleman recognise that that is a very disappointing reply? In view of the appalling inconvenience of not having any hearings in central London, and the manifest inefficiency of having the Patent Office divided among four separate buildings in Croydon, would he not undertake to reconsider this very short-sighted proposal?
§ Mr. DarlingWe have gone very carefully into the pros and cons of convenience and efficiency in this proposed move. We are convinced that to separate the hearings from the Patent Office would be uneconomic and inefficient, even if suitable accommodation could be found near the Law Courts.
§ Mr. CorfieldIs this not an office where it really is essential to have all the departments under one roof and not divided, as my hon. Friend the Member for Wanstead and Woodford (Mr. Patrick Jenkin) has mentioned?
§ Mr. DarlingI understand that the buildings concerned will be joined together with appropriate covered ways. They are not entirely separate.
§ Mr. WinnickIs my right hon. Friend aware that Croydon is very near central London and that many people in Croydon will be very pleased to have the Patent Office moved there?