§ 55. Sir J. Rodgersasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, during the negotiations for setting up a European Patent Office, he will suggest 9W the establishment of its headquarters in London.
§ Mr. John DaviesAs I told the House on 20th March, in reply to a Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, South-West (Mr. Tom Boardman), we agreed in 1969 to support a Dutch proposal that the European Patent Office headquarters should be in The Hague, but we were telling the other countries concerned that, should the Dutch bid be unsuccessful or withdrawn, we would propose that the institution be sited in this country. This conditional offer, which was communicated to the 19 countries concerned, proposed London as the location in this country. The Dutch having withdrawn, the proposal for London is now unconditional.—[Vol. 833, c.230.]
§ 69. Mr. Darlingasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether his discussions with the Governments of the Netherlands and West Germany on the location of the European Patents Office have reached a conclusion; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John DaviesThese countries have jointly proposed that the European Patent Office be in Munich with a branch in The Hague which we had originally supported as the site for the headquarters. We have therefore now told the negotiating countries that our bid for London as the site of the Office, which up to now has been conditional on an earlier bid for The Hague being withdrawn or defeated, is now unconditional.