Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that there will be equality in the treatment of rights of representation between trademark attorneys in the UK, the EU, and the European Economic Area (EEA) once the UK has withdrawn from the EU; and whether any such plans (1) include a common right of representation for such attorneys before the European Intellectual Property Office, or (2) would not give EU or EEA attorneys the right of representation in the UK.

We want a relationship with the EU which is based on friendly cooperation between sovereign equals, and centred on free trade. We are looking for a deal like those the EU has previously struck with other friendly countries like Canada.

FTA precedent is our starting point for legal services. We aim to secure market access commitments for lawyers and minimise barriers to the cross-border supply of services and investment, on the basis of commitments like those in the Canada FTA.