§ Mr. Gouldasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, further to his reply of 25 February, Official Report, column 10, about changing the status of the Patents Office, what provisos on the implementation of any change in status were specified by the 10 respondents; and what constituted necessity in the view of 30 respondents.
§ Mr. ButcherTen of the respondents who favoured changing the status of the Patents Office did so provided that Patents Office fees were not substantially increased as a result of the change and/or that acceptable arrangements were adopted regarding the powers to be delegated to the office and regarding the constitution of its management board. Thirty respondents were prepared to accept a change of status if this were necessary to enable the office to respond better to user needs for new and improved services.