§ MR. HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if he can state how many appeals there were in 1890 against the decision of the Comptroller of Patents and Designs as to the acceptance or refusal of registration of a trade mark, and how many of these were referred direct to the Court instead of being heard by the Board of Trade; and if, in these cases, he will consider the propriety of having the fee charged on lodging an appeal to the Department, returned to the appellant?
§ SIR M. HICKS BEACHDuring the year ended 31st December, 1890, there were 43 appeals against the decision of the Comptroller refusing to register a trade mark. Of these, 25 were referred 1180 to the Court and 18 heard by the Board of Trade. I am not prepared to direct the return of fees paid under the circumstances mentioned in the last paragraph of my hon. Friend's question. Only £1 is charged, and a considerable amount of work has to be performed in connection with such appeals before they are referred to the Court.