§ Mr. Easthamasked the Secretary of State for Trade what representations have been made by Manchester city council and the Manchester chamber of commerce and industry requesting support from his Department that the European Economic Community trade mark office be located in Manchester; and whether he will make it his policy to seek for the location of the office in that city.
§ Mr. EyreThe Manchester chamber of commerce and industry, supported by Manchester city council and other local interests, has written to urge that Manchester should be offered as the site for the proposed community trade mark office. At a recent meeting with a representative of the Manchester chamber, I had the opportunity to discuss all aspects of this question.
I fully understand and welcome the initiative and efforts to aid a regional centre. Nevertheless, I have to conclude that we must offer our strongest contender if we are to succeed in bringing this office to the United Kingdom against the counter-proposals of The Hague, Brussels and Strasbourg. In my view this remains London, which is the focal point of our trade mark system and is unrivalled in the United Kingdom as a source of professional expertise to help potential applicants for Community trade marks.