§ MR. JOSEPH LAWRENCE (Monmouth Boroughs)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether 915 his attention has been called to the conditions existing between this country and Germany and France in respect of the Patent Laws, and whether the Government will in the next session of Parliament take steps to assimilate the law of this country to that prevailing in the countries named; and can he state what steps, if any, the Government intend to take to carry into effect any of the recommendations contained in the Report, dated January of this year, of the Board of Trade Committee on the working of the Patent Acts.
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURI understand the first part of my hon. friend's question refers in particular to the forfeiture of patents for non-working which is provided for by the law in France and Germany. The proposal to introduce a similar condition in this country was considered by the Board of Trade Committee, but was rejected by them in favour of other proposals having a similar object. With respect to the last part of the question, the Bill which passed this House yesterday was intended to give effect to one recommendation of the Committee; the other recommendations are under consideration. I may say that I hope it may be found possible to deal with the amendment of the Patent Laws before very long, but I am not in a position at present to give any pledge on the subject.