§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (Miss Melanie Johnson)I have set the Patent Office the following targets for 2003–04:
PATENTS
To increase performance year on year so that 90 percent, of search reports are issued within six months of request by 2005–06.
The milestones towards achievement of this target are:
- by 2003/04–75 per cent.
- by 2004/05–80 per cent.
- by 2005/06–90 per cent.
To grant 90 per cent, of patents within 3 years of request.
DESIGNS
To register 90 per cent, of correctly filed design applications, to which no substantive objections have been raised, within 3 months of the date of application.
TRADE MARKS
To reduce to an average of 26 weeks the time taken to issue a decision in trade mark inter partes cases once the case is ready.
32WSPOLICY
To publish details of progress towards key milestones in UK and International policy development in the Annual Report and on our web site.
EFFICIENCY TARGETS
To increase output in relation to current operational expenditure by an average of at least 2 per cent. per annum measured over a rolling 3 year period.
In addition to these key targets:
CUSTOMER SERVICE STANDARDS
To meet our Customer Service Standards as shown in the Annual Report and on our web site at http://www.patent.gov.uk/.
FINANCE
The Office will pay 100 per cent, of bills within 30 days of receipt of goods or services or a valid invoice, whichever is the later.
QUESTIONS DELEGATED TO THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE
The Chief Executive will reply within 10 working days to all letters from Members of Parliament delegated to her for reply.