§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Prime Minister if she will appoint a special committee of scientific and legal experts to examine the consequences of any decision in the United Kingdom that living organisms can be patented and the impact such a decision would have on scientific research in the field of biotechnology.
§ The Prime MinisterThe recent joint report from the Advisory Council for Applied Research and Development, the Advisory Board for Research Councils and the Royal Society drew attention to obstacles to the development of biotechnology which can arise from the operation of certain aspects of the patent law. The Government's policy in the field of biotechnology is being reviewed in the light of the recommendations of the ACARD report and these problems will be examined as part of that review. We hope to be able to publish the Government's response to the joint report in the near future.