§ Mr. Skeetasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consult the representatives of other countries with the object of creating an international patent office; and whether he will enter into negotiations with the members of the European Free Trade Association to secure greater unification in the laws relating to patents.
§ Mr. ErrollMy right hon. Friend has already arranged for the views of experts from countries—members of the European Free Trade Association as well as those of the European Common Market—to be sought on the possibility of creating an International Patent Office, and some preliminary consultation has recently taken place. The establishment of such an office would tend towards greater unification of the patent laws of all countries which recognised it.