§ Mr. Warrenasked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the "opportunity cost" of the Patent Office accommodation; and what is the basis used for arriving at this value.
§ Mr. Clinton DavisThe estimated opportunity cost of Patent Office accommodation in the financial year 1974–75 is approximately £2¾ million. This is based on average current market rentals for general purpose office buildings, whether Government-owned or not, and includes other costs such as rates, maintenance and cleaning.
§ Mr. Warrenasked the Secretary of State for Trade how the basis used for arriving at the present "opportunity cost" of Patent Office accommodation varies from the basis previously used; and on what date the system of calculation was changed.
§ Mr. Clinton DavisThe system previously in use was based on the average amounts paid for Government-leased accommodation. Opportunity costing was introduced in the Patent Office for the128W first time in respect of the financial year 1972–73.
§ Mr. Warrenasked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the difference in value between the "opportunity cost" of the Patent Office accommodation on the new formula compared with the old.
§ Mr. Clinton DavisThe introduction of opportunity costing in the financial year 1972–73 increased the charge for Patent Office accommodation by about £1.3 million, to £2,326,000.