§ MR. BAUMANN (Camberwell, Peckham)I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether "Cordite" powder has been patented in any foreign country; and, if so, by whom?
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, WAR DEPARTMENT (Mr. BRODRICK,) Surrey, GuildfordPatents in connection with "Cordite" powder have been taken out abroad by Sir Frederick Abel and Professor Dewar, the inventors, to protect the invention.
MR. BAUMANN, rising later, saidI wish to ask my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether any arrangement has been made between the Secretary of State for War and Sir Frederick Abel as to the profits to be derived from the patent for "Cordite" powder, which, he tells me, has been taken out abroad; whether any agreement has been made as to who is to receive those profits, or whether Sir Frederick Abel himself is to be allowed to take those profits?
§ MR. BRODRICKIn reply to my hon. Friend, I am not aware of any such arrangement as he suggests. As regards Great Britain the patent is in the hands of the Secretary of State, and I assume that the vendor would be in the same position abroad as any other vendor.