§ Mr. Gouldasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, in setting targets for the board of management 610W of the Patent Office, he intends to (a) apply cash limits to the office, or(b) to limit the freedom of the office to raise fees and charges.
§ Mr. PattieAs announced in a written reply on 13 January the aims behind the decision to change the status of the Patent Office to that of a statutory non-departmental body included those of freeing it from the traditional civil service framework and ensuring that it should be self-supporting from fees, and free to finance investment programmes. Legislative proposals for the office including financial provisions will be laid before Parliament. The details of the future financial arrangements including the type of targets to be set are still under consideration.