§ Lord Walton of Detchantasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, in the light of the report of the House of Commons European Standing Committee, they will now support the European Commission's proposal under which patents relating to pharmaceutical preparations would be extended up to 10 years, with a limit of protection of 16 years after marketing.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Reay)The Government will negotiate flexibly on the European Commission's proposal for a regulation concerning the creation of a supplementary protection certificate for medicinal products, in accordance with the Motion debated by European Standing Committee B of the House of Commons, as proposed to be72WA amended by the honourable Member for Gateshead East (Ms. Quin) and now put to that House. Opinions among member states of the European Community on the proposal are divided. The Government's aim will be to achieve a common position.