§ MR. O'REILLYasked the Secretary of State for War, In cases where an inventor and patentee is of opinion that a Government Manufacturing Department has infringed his patent, and thereby given him an equitable, although not a legal, claim to compensation, to what authority is the question, whether the inventor's patent has been so infringed left for decision, and in what way are his interests represented before that authority?
§ MR. CARDWELLSir, an inventor who considers he has a claim upon the War Department, and sends in an application, has it referred to the Surveyor General of Ordnance, and it comes to me with his opinion. If any legal points arise the solicitor is consulted, and in case of need I should refer to the Law Officers of the Crown. If there seems to be a primâ facie case it is sent to the Ordnance Council, of which Lord Northbrook is the Chairman, the Surveyor General and the Financial Secretary members, with many most competent officers, military and naval. That Council assesses the amount to be paid, which then, with the sanction of the Treasury, is submitted to the House of Commons. I think it right to add that the mere circumstance of a patent having been taken out does not necessarily constitute an equitable claim against the Government.