§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment the prior options review of the Next Steps agencies for the Patent Office has made of the advantages of the agencies expanding their work into areas of activity undertaken by(a) trade mark agents and (b) patent agents. [41614]
§ Mr. Ian McCartneyThe nature of the functions of the Patent Office is defined by Statutes which in practice preclude it from expanding its work into areas of activity undertaken by patent and trade mark agents. In the context of a prior options review in 1994, the previous Government considered in general terms whether legislation should be introduced to alter this arrangement. In the event, they decided not to proceed with legislation.