§ Mr. Nigel EvansTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what effect in financial and business terms he estimates the international piracy and counterfeiting trade have on the British record industry.
§ Mr. McLoughlinThe British Phonograph Industry, the record industry's trade association, has recently estimated that piracy is depriving the industry of one fifth of its potential export market, resulting in a loss in earnings of £160 million per annum at current values. I am not aware of any other estimates but fully recognise the importance to the industry of effective copyright protection overseas. The Government will continue to work actively to achieve this by all available means including the GATT, current negotiations within the World Intellectual Property Organisation on new international copyright agreements and European Community initiatives.