§ Mr. MillerTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will bring forward proposals for legislation to restrict the powers of United Kingdom companies to enter into intellectual property contracts with offshore companies and to increase the level of supervision of such contracts.
§ Mr. LeighI have no plans to bring forward proposals for legislation to restrict the powers of United Kingdom companies to enter into contracts concerning intellectual property, or to supervise such contracts.
§ Mr. MillerTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what monitoring his Department carries out of intellectual property contracts with offshore companies entered into by United Kingdom companies; what estimate he has made of the effect of such contracts on the conduct of pension funds and life assurance funds; what provisions exist as to the role of auditors in such cases; if he will list companies known to have been involved; and if he will make a statement on the role of supervisory bodies in these circumstances.
§ Mr. LeighMy Department does not monitor contracts concerning intellectual property entered into by United Kingdom companies or their effects on pension and life assurance funds. Auditors' activities are governed by company law.