§ MR. LENG (Dundee)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will direct the attention of Her Majesty's Minister in the United States of America to the fact that, while complete sets of the publications of the British Patent Office are-presented to 12 of the most important cities in those States, a corresponding number of sets of the publications of the United States Patent Office are not sent to similar cities in this country, and that inventors in Birmingham, Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds, Newcastle, Dundee, Belfast, and other cities are put to the inconvenience of visiting London to consult the only set of United States Patent Office publications accessible to them in this country?
§ *THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. STUART WORTLEY,) Sheffield, HallamI am requested by my right hon. Friend the Under Secretary of State for 589 Foreign Affairs to say that it is believed that the fact is as stated, but the matter is one which concerns the Board of Trade. The publications of the British Patent Office referred to in the hon. Member's question are not presented in consequence of any application made through the diplomatic channel from the Government or authorities of the United States. No application has been made to the Foreign Office to request from the United States Government copies of their publications in exchange.