§ Mr. Emeryasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will now take steps to enable the European and other patent conventions to be ratified during 1976 as agreed with the United Kingdom's European partners.
§ Mr. Clinton DavisI recognise that ratification by the United Kingdom of the European Patent Convention by the end of 1976 is important for British interests, and I intend to introduce a comparatively short Bill to enable such ratification as soon as circumstances permit. Ratification of the Community Patent Convention may have to follow at a later date, and this is well understood by our European partners.