§ MR. F. CAWLEY (Lancashire, Prestwich)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that persons desirous of applying for licences to work patents in this Country under Section 22 of the Patents, Designs, and Trade Marks Act are deterred from doing so because according to eminent 955 legal opinion the cost of procedure in such a case is very heavy, and the language employed in the Section is vague and doubtful; and whether, seeing that the Act as it at present stands is extremely detrimental to British Trade, he will introduce a Measure to amend it?
§ MR. HANBURY (for Mr. RITCHIE)The Board of Trade do not think that the difficulties suggested by the hon. Member are felt by all persons desirous of applying for licences, as they have several petitions before them at the present time. In one or more of those cases, in all probability, the capabilities of the existing law will be tested. If the law be found wanting my right hon. Friend will at once consider the propriety of amending it.