§ Mr. Bishopasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) when he expects the proposals for a European patent system to be completed ; and what action he is taking to ensure that the United Kingdom Patent Office is maintained at full establishment in the meantime ;
216W(2) what recent discussions he has had with the EEC regarding the future of the patents system ; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir G. HoweThe European Patent Convention was signed in October 1973 and the Community Patent Convention, which regulates the effects of the European patent in EEC countries, is expected to be concluded in May 1974. Negotiations with other EEC countries and the Commission on the Community Patent Convention have taken place since the United Kingdom became a member of the EEC. Preparatory work on organising the European Patent Office will begin shortly in the hope that the new system will be operating in about 1976–77. It is considered essential to maintain the United Kingdom Patent Office at full strength for the time being and for this purpose a campaign has begun to recruit people of all ages, some of whom may wish to transfer to the European Patent Office when the time comes.
§ Mr. Bishopasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he is aware that in the British Patent Office the number of unexamined applications awaiting attention has increased to approximately 50,000, and that the average time for primary examination of applications has risen from nine months to a year in the past 12 months ; and what action he is taking to speed up the examination and dispatch of applications ;
(2) if he is aware that in the British Patent Office the number of examining staff below the grade of principal examiner dropped from 503 at the end of 1972 to 471 at the end of September 1973 ; and if he is satisfied with the remuneration and conditions of examiners ; and, having regard to the fact that the response to a recent offer of seven-year contracts has proved negligible, whether he expects to maintain examining staff at the maximum strength of 530 examiners.
§ Sir G. HoweDuring 1973 the number of patent specifications awaiting examination rose by about 2,000 to 49,130 and the average delay in issuing the examiner's first report increased by about two weeks to just over 12 months. 217W I am aware that the examining staff below Principal Examiner fell from 503 at the end of 1972 to 471 by September 1973. By promotion into the examining grades and by the appointment of examiners on seven-year contracts this has now increased to 485 and some further entrants on seven-year contracts are still expected. I am commencing a recruiting campaign for people of all ages, some on a permanent basis and some on period appointments. The remuneration and conditions of employment are under constant review ; they are, of course, largely controlled by the conditions of the general service classes to which they are linked and by competing claims for accommodation respectively.