§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what core functions of the Patent Office are being considered for contracting out; and if he will make a statement. [24160]
§ Mr. Ian Taylor[holding answer 2 April 1996]: The remit placed on the Patent Office by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade in his statement of 14 December 1994 was to contract out activities wherever this was compatible with its statutory role and good value for money. In pursuit of this remit, the Patent Office, in its latest corporate plan for the next five years, foresees the employment of up to 750 civil service staff supported by about 250 contracted staff working for external suppliers. Services currently under consideration for contractorisation are the London front office, informatin technology services and the central inquiry unit.