HC Deb 05 July 1995 vol 263 cc248-9W
Mr. Alex Carlile

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how successful the marketing department of the Patent Office has been in recent years according to the Patent Office corporate plans; and if he will make a statement. [32358]

Mr. Ian Taylor

Since the Patent Office became an executive agency in 1990, the work of its marketing department has concentrated on spreading awareness of the importance of intellectual property rights—for example, through advertising campaigns and roadshows. Outputs have been monitored against budgets set, and quality assessed through feedback invited from customers. On both counts, the marketing department has consistently achieved its objectives. However, the effect of its work on demand for Patent Office services could not be quantified, since it has not possible to differentiate it from other determinants such as the economic climate and changes in the speed of innovation cycles.

Mr. Carlile

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to contract out the work of the marketing department of the Patent Office, and if he will make a statement. [32348]

Mr. Taylor

My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade stated in his announcement of the outcome of the Patent Office review on 14 December 1994,Official Report, column 657–58 that the office would be encouraged to contract out activities wherever this is compatible with its statutory role and good value for money. Consultants have been retained to explore market potential for Patent Office services, focusing on demand for non-statutory services such as commercial searches and technical advice, and means of realising it. Contractorisation of marketing and information work is therefore a possibility, but the consultants have not yet reported and no decisions have yet been taken.

Mr. Carlile

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what procedures are in place for the consultation with Patent Office employees concerning contractorisation and re-engineering within the office; and if he will make a statement. [32349]

Mr. Taylor

The chief executive of the Patent Office and other senior managers met all staff in small groups following the outcome of the Patent Office review, and discussed issues of contractorisation and reengineering at that time. Another round of discussion will take place later in the summer. The trade unions have been notified of the appointment of consultants to consider selected areas, and contract officers have been identified.

Mr. Carlile

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his most recent judgment concerning the eligibility of the Patent Office employees to make bids for work put to tender by the Patent Office; and if he will make a statement. [32356]

Mr. Taylor

Certain areas of work within the Patent Office are being considered to see whether—in principle—contracting out would be feasible. No tenders have yet been issued. Should tenders be invited, staff may enter a bid on the same basis as the private sector, with the corollary that they will cease to be civil servants if their bid is successful. Bids for contracted out services will be assessed against benchmarks for the forecast cost and quality of service from in-house provision, and so staff already have the opportunity to prove that they can match or beat the private sector if the services remain in-house.