§ Mr. EtheringtonTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list all United Kingdom patents that have been(a) applied for and (b) granted since 1 July 1995 in respect of genetically engineered animals and processes for creating such animals. [1119]
§ Mr. BattleI can only give information about patent applications which have been published. Prior to publication such information is confidential. There have been a total of three patent applications filed under the 1977 Patents Act and published since 1 July 1995 relating to genetically engineered animals and processes for22W preparing them. Patent application No. GB 2295395 relates to an animal model for Alzheimer's disease, application No. GB 2291646 relates to transgenic fish and application No. GB 2288807 relates to transgenic animals expressing an insecticidal protein. None of these applications have yet been granted. One application, namely GB 2265909, which was made before 1 July 1995 and which relates to a process for producing transgenic animals, has since been granted. This information covers only applications filed at the UK Patent Office and does not include applications filed at the European Patent Office and which may have the legal effect of UK patents when granted by that Office.