§ Mr. MillsTo ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) when he will introduce legislation to implement the EC directive on trade marks;
(2) what representations he has received on the consequences of not introducing legislation to implement the EC directive on trade marks by the end of 1992; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LeighMy right hon. Friend has received various representations on the need to implement the EC directive on trade marks by primary legislation. Thirty letters were received last autumn and more recently Sir John M. Banham, the Director general of the CBI, Mr. Christopher Morcom QC and Mr. Richard C. Abnett, the President of the Institute of Trade Mark Agents wrote. However, as my hon. Friend is aware, pressure of parliamentary time made it impossible to include the Trade Marks Bill in the legislative programme set out in the Gracious Speech.
We are now reviewing the available options for implementing the EC directive. I am not yet in a position to make a statement.