§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the policy of his Department in respect of the future of(a) 25 Southampton buildings, (b) the Patent Office and (c) the Office of Fair Trading following vacation of these premises. [441]
Mr. John M. TaylorI have been asked to reply.
I have asked the chief executive of the Patent Office to write direct to the hon. Member.
Letter from J. C. Octon to Mr. D. N. Campbell-Savours, dated 30 October 1996:
I am replying for the Patent Office in the absence of the Chief Executive to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for the Environment about 25 Southampton Buildings.The Patent Office is only a minor user of 25 Southampton Buildings and as such has no policy responsibility for the building. That now rests with the Department of National Heritage with which we have made arrangements for the accommodation of our remaining London staff. While these arrangements are helpful the future presence of the Patent Office in London is not totally dependent upon them. If the need arose we would be able to seek appropriate alternatives.