§ Mr. Beaumont-Darkasked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the seminar on science technology and industry that she chaired in September.
§ The Prime MinisterThe discussion at the seminar organised by the Government at Lancaster house in September showed that major developments are taking place in the generation, financing and exploitation of innovation. Few organisations, however, can afford to embark on expensive programmes of research and development without the assurance that ownership of the fruits of this will be safeguarded. That means that those individuals generating new ideas, whether in universities, companies, Government research establishments or even in schools, should take very seriously indeed the protection of those ideas — generally known as intellectual property — through patents, copyright and registered designs.
160WDr. R B Nicholson, Chief Scientific Adviser in the Cabinet Office, was asked to study whether the national system of intellectual property rights was well suited to encouraging innovation. I have today laid his report before the House as a consultative document.
The recommendations that Dr. Nicholson makes are intended to improve the awareness of the value of intellectual property rights, their accessibility and their usage particularly by individuals and small businesses. The Government welcome this contribution to such an important subject.
But this is a complex area and the Government are seeking views widely before attempting to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of the actions proposed.