HC Deb 18 April 1904 vol 133 cc377-8
SIR JOHN LENG (Dundee)

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if the proportion of British patents granted to foreigners residing and manufacturing abroad, returned by the Comptroller-General of Patents at 53'2 per cent, for the year 1901, obtains for all the patents now in force; what is the approximate number of such patents; and what proportion of the articles so patented, if any, are manufactured in the United Kingdom.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. GERALD BALFOUR,) Leeds, Central

The figures quoted by the hon. Member represent the proportion of British patents granted to persons residing abroad and in the Colonies in the year 1901, and have no reference to the place where the patented goods were manufactured. The proportion varies from year to year. In 1902 it was 50'4 and in 1903 51'4 per cent. The number of British patents in force at the end of the year 1902 was about 72,000, but the Patent Office have no information as to the proportion of articles manufactured in the United Kingdom under these patents.