Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of geographical indication protections for regionally significant natural stones.

I am responding as minister with responsibility for intellectual property. Geographical indications for craft and industrial products, e.g. natural stones, can be protected in the UK via specialised collective and certification trade marks. Collective and certification trade marks can be applied for via the Intellectual Property Office and are accompanied by regulations that set out the conditions of use of the trade mark. This can include that the goods or services covered by the mark have a specific geographical origin. As trade marks are private rights, it is for potential applicants to decide whether to seek such trade mark protection.