HC Deb 27 October 1997 vol 299 cc691-2W
Mr. Levitt

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what measures she is taking to prevent the import into

Average annual household standard credit gas bills1,2: real 1995 prices3 including VAT
£
1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987
British Gas supply zones5
Main zone 347 322 272 310 356 418 412 404 398 378
North 323 298 256 295 352 413 407 400 395 373
Midlands 317 290 250 289 349 407 402 397 391 370

Britain and Europe of copies of British engineering products, made in breach of World Patent Organisation rules. [12756]

Mr. Ian McCartney

The importation into the European Union of goods which infringe trade marks, copyright and design rights is prohibited by virtue of Council Regulation 3295/94 provided that the relevant right holder has lodged an application for action with Customs and Excise, which is responsible in the UK for enforcement. The regulation fulfils the obligations of the UK and the EU under the World Trade Organisation—general agreement on tariffs and trade—formerly GATT agreement on trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights but its coverage of "counterfeit and pirated goods" does not embrace patent infringements.