§ SIR JOHN LUBBOCK (London University)asked the Secretary to the Board of Trade, Whether the published Minutes of Evidence, accompanying the Report of the Committee appointed to inquire into the working of the Patent Office, comprise the whole of the Evidence laid before that Committee?
§ THE SECRETARY (Baron HENRY DE WORMS) (Liverpool, East Toxteth)The Committee in question was appointed to inquire into the duties, organization, and arrangements of the Patent Office under the Patents, Designs, and Trade Marks Act, 1883, having especial regard to the System of examination of the specifications which accompany applications for patents under that Act. The Report and Evidence has been presented to Parliament. The Committee were also asked to make confidential inquiry into certain questions relating to the staff and internal regulation of the Patent Office. The Evidence taken on this head is hardly of a character which it would be consistent with the interests of the Service and the usual practice in such cases to make public.
§ SIR JOHN LUBBOCKasked, whether the Board of Trade intended to make a Report on that portion of the Evidence which it was not their design to publish?
§ BARON HENRY DE WORMSYes.