§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what legal advice he has received on the implications of change in ownership of the Patent Office; and if he will make a statement;
(2) which options in regard to the United Kingdom Patent Office have been ruled out; and if he will make a statement;
(3) what is the option which Price Waterhouse has been requested to provide covering the future of the Patent Office; and if he will make a statement;
(4) how many representations he has received on the future of the Patent Ofice in the last 12 months; how many of them were in favour of the status quo; and if he will make a statement;
(5) if he will consider making an interim announcement in regard to the Patent Office.
§ Mr. McLoughlinWe are still considering the report by Price Waterhouse which was commissioned as part of the review of the Patent Office's performance as an agency and of its options for the future. The review covers a range of possibilities from abolition to maintenance of the status quo. It is also required to address the scope for contractorisation or privatisation. The review has thrown up a number of complex legal and policy issues, which we are considering. I should emphasise that no decision on the future of the office has yet been taken. An announcement will be made as soon as the review is complete.
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Company Inspectors Accountant inspectors costs (inc support staff and VAT) £ (000's) Legal inspectors costs (inc support staff and VAT) £ (000's) Cost of inspection/inspection to date £ (000's) Guinness Plc Mr. D. Donaldson QC 1,794 482 2,276 Mr. I Watt FCA, formerly of KPMG Peat Marwick Graylaw Holdings Ltd. Miss E. Appleby QC 431 43 474 Link Service Stations Ltd. Mr. P. Foss FCA, British Anzani Plc Moore Rowland Bank Street Securities Ltd. Miss E. Appleby QC 152 20 172 Medway Secondary Metals Ltd. Mr. P. Foss FCA, 85 15 100 Pennine Comnmercial Holdings Plc Moore Rowland 352 35 387 Around 80 representations have been received regarding the future of the Patent Office. These reflect a wide range of issues.