§ Mr. WallerTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what targets he has set the Patent Office executive agency for 1996–97. [32069]
§ Mr. LangI have set the Patent Office the targets listed for 1996–97.
- Efficiency
- To increase output in relation to total staff numbers by 2 per cent.
- To increase output in relation to total staff costs by 2 per cent.
- To increase output in relation to current expenditure by 2 per cent.
- Quality
- To issue patent search reports within 12 weeks of receipt of a request in the Patent Office.
- To issue patent examination reports within 18 months of publication.
- To confirm payment of patent renewal fees within six working days of receipt in the Patents Office.
- To issue initial search and examination reports on design applications within 12 weeks of receipt of request.
- To confirm payment of design registration renewal fees within six working days of receipt in the Patent Office.
- To issue trade mark examination reports within two months of data capture in the Patent Office.
- To advertise within seven months of examination, trade mark applications which attract no substantive objection at the examination stage.
526 - To register within four months of advertisement, trade mark applications which are not formally opposed.
- In addition, I expect the chief executive of the Patent Office to continue to reply within 10 working days to all letters from Members of Parliament delegated to him for reply.