Patent Office (Hansard, 20 March 2002)

§ Miss Melanie Johnson

I have set the Patent Office the following targets for 2002–03:

Patents

1. To increase performance year on year so that 90 per cent. of search reports are issued within six months of request by 2005–06.
2. To grant 90 per cent. of patents within three years of request.

Designs

3. To register 90 per cent. of correctly filed design applications, to which no substantive objections have been raised, within three months of the date of application.

Trade Marks

4. To register 90 per cent, of processed trade mark class applications, to which no substantive objections are raised or oppositions filed within nine months of application.
5. To reduce to an average of 39 weeks the time taken to issue a decision in trade mark inter panes cases once the case is ready.

Policy

6. To publish details of progress towards key milestones in UK and international policy development in the annual report and on our website.

Efficiency Targets

7. To increase output in relation to current expenditure by an average of at least 2 per cent, per annum over the period 1998–99 to 2002–03.

In addition to these key targets:

Customer Service Standards To meet our customer service standards as shown in the annual report and on our website at www.patent.gov.uk

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Finance The Office will pay 100 per cent, of bills within 30 days of receipt of goods or services or a valid invoice, whichever is the later.

Questions delegated to the Chief Executive The Chief Executive will reply within 10 working days to all letters from Members of Parliament delegated to her for reply.