§ 28. Mr. Ronald Bellasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he is taking to ensure the primacy of the British Patent Office in the handling of English language applications for patents when a European Patent Office has been established, and to safeguard the continuance of the team of examiners of the London office, in view of their special experience.
§ Sir G. HoweThe United Kingdom has secured an arrangement whereby, for a period of 15 years from the opening of the European Patent Office, a substantial number of applications filed in the English language may be contracted out for examination to the British office on an agency basis.