§ Mr. WellsTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what were the totals of applications and registrations made for trade marks in each year since 1988; and what is the mean average processing time required by the Patent Office.
§ Mr. McLoughlinThe answer is:
Applications Registrations 1988 38,000 14,381 1989 40,052 22,374 1990 39,632 28,389 1991 34,983 30,421 1992 35,968 35,137 1993 34,871 33,071 For 1993–94 the Trade Marks Registry has a target to register 80 per cent. of unopposed trade mark applications within 24 months of receipt.
The rights in the eventual registration start from the date of application.