§ 4. Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will place in the Library of the House the draft conventions prepared by the European Economic Community and the European Free Trade Association on a European patent agreement.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (Mr. Anthony Grant)I am grateful to my hon. Friend from drawing attention to this matter. Copies of the three draft conventions in question have been placed in the Library.
§ Mr. SkeetI am very much obliged to my hon. Friend for that reply. Are the Government in favour of the minimal approach for the grant of a system of law covering the grant of patents? Is my hon. Friend prepared to go even further and examine a system of law granting validity of patents?
§ Mr. GrantWe are always anxious to obtain greater efficiency in the law relating to patents of an international nature and all the matters referred to by my hon. Friend will be taken into consideration.