asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he has yet received the Report of the Whitford Committee on Copyright and Design Law; and if he will make a statement.

The Report has been received and will be published as soon as possible. The subjects dealt with are complex and we intend to ask for the views of interested organisations before arriving at any conclusions on the Report. The financial implications of these proposals, must of course, be viewed against the background of the Chancellor's statement on 15th December.