HC Deb 17 December 1992 vol 216 cc470-1W
Mr. Nigel Evans

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations his Department will make to EC Ministers on home copying of copyright music; and what assessment he has made of the effect as between EC member states of the introduction of an EC-wide home copying royalty.

Mr. Leigh

The possibility of a directive on home taping has been discussed three times in the Internal Market Council, and on each occasion the United Kingdom has expressed a general expression reservation on the need for Community action. It is not possible to make an assessment of the effects of an EC-wide levy scheme until details are known. At the present time, the Commission has not submitted any formal proposal for such a scheme.

Mr. Nigel Evans

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimates his Department has made on the level of home copying of copyright music in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Leigh

My Department has not itself conducted or commissioned research into the level of home copying in the United Kingdom, but both copyright owners and consumer groups have carried out their own surveys. These surveys are not directly comparable, but both indicate that the practice of home copying of copyright music is widespread. The bodies concerned have drawn differing conclusions as to the consequences of this for the economic interests of copyright owners.

Mr. Nigel Evans

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations his Department have made to the Government of Poland on piracy of copyright music.

Mr. Leigh

The United Kingdom Government has not made direct representations to the Government of Poland on the piracy of copyright music, but has fully supported European Community initiatives to achieve effective protection of intellectual property in that country. Earlier this year, Poland entered into an association agreement with the Community, one condition of which is that both the level of intellectual property protection and the means for enforcing rights must be brought up to the standard comparable to that in the Community.

Mr. Nigel Evans

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish a paper outlining the United Kingdom Government position on the EC proposals on copyright harmonisation.

Mr. Leigh

I have no plans to publish such a paper. Early in 1991, the Commission announced an ambitious programme for harmonisation in the copyright field. A directive on rental, lending and related rights has already been adopted under that programme. Other directives are at an advanced stage of negotiation, and further initiatives are expected. In all cases where proposals have already been submitted by the Commission, the Government have provided explanatory memoranda to Parliament, and have fully consulted relevant interests in establishing its negotiating position. This process will continue as new proposals emerge.