HC Deb 02 July 1973 vol 859 cc20-1
20. Mr. Marten

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement on the siting of a European Patents Office.

The Minister for Trade and Consumer Affairs (Sir Geoffrey Howe)

As announced in the House on 29th June last year, the negotiating countries decided by a large majority to establish the seat of the office at Munich and a patent searching branch at The Hague. I do not expect any change in the views of the other countries when the decision comes up for confirmation at the diplomatic conference in September.—[Vol. 839, c. 406.]

Mr. Marten

As English is the most widely-spoken language and the British Patents Office has the best expertise in the whole world, when the matter comes up for confirmation will my right hon. and learned Friend bid very hard to have the office in Britain on grounds of efficiency?

Sir G. Howe

I appreciate the importance of the factors mentioned by my hon. Friend. The fact is that this is a convention, which has not yet been completely negotiated, between 21 European countries which have had to take account of other matters including the existence of one institution at The Hague. The matter has to be considered in that forum. I would not wish to hold out any hopes that there is likely to be a change in the basic decision on the siting at Munich.

Sir G. de Freitas

Surely most of the patents are registered in this country. There should be no doubt about this, in view of the linguistic and other points which have been made.

Sir G. Howe

I appreciate the importance of the point made by the right hon. Gentleman. The linguistic factor is only one of the factors to be taken into account. The matter was fully considered before the decision was arrived at last year. This is a matter which is being taken in the context of negotiations by 21 countries extending far beyond the European Economic Community, the result of which will be to confer something of considerable value on British industry and inventors, namely, a patent available not only in the EEC but in other European countries. One must have regard to that advantage as well as to the fact mentioned by the right hon. Gentleman.

Mr. Skeet

If we are to lose the European Patents Office to Munich, will the Trade Mark Office come to the United Kingdom and be sited in London?

Sir G. Howe

My hon. Friend is right to remind the House that the Patents Office is not the only European institution likely to be set up. We expect to get a reasonable share of such institutions in this country. I note my hon. Friend's reference to the prospects of the European Trade Mark Office.