HC Deb 04 March 1915 vol 70 cc949-51
14. Sir F. CAWLEY

asked whether in case the chemists doing research work for the limited liability company supported by the Government should make, any valuable discovery, such discovery will be immediately placed at the service of all other aniline dye manufacturers, seeing that the Government are giving this one company £10,000 per annum for research work out of public funds?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

The Grant referred to is a Grant-in-Aid of the new company in respect of expenditure incurred by them in research and experiment. No such condition as that suggested in the question will be imposed.

Sir F. CAWLEY

In the event of such discoveries being made will they be published?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

I am afraid that I cannot make a statement on that at the moment, but the intention is that discoveries that are made shall be made available for other manufacturers under licence.

15. Sir F. CAWLEY

asked whether paranitrotoluol is being supplied to Swiss manufacturers for the manufacture of aniline dyes; whether permits to obtain the same products are being refused to English manufacturers of aniline dyes; and whether the Government will treat other manufacturers of aniline colours and intermediate products exactly in the same way in regard to licences and permits as the company to whom they are lending money?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

I understand that licences to export limited quantities of paranitrotoluol to Switzerland were granted in two instances some time ago on condition that equivalent quantities of dyes were re-exported to this country. The question of granting permits for the export of that product, or for its utilisation in this country for other than naval and military purposes, is decided in each case having regard to the surplus, if any, which is available after naval and military requirements have been met. There is no discrimination as between different manufacturers in the United Kingdom.

Sir F. CAWLEY

Will English manufacturers have, at any rate, the same benefit as the Swiss manufacturers?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

In so far as there is a surplus of paranitrotoluol available for English manufacturers of course they will have the benefit of it.

18. Sir PHILIP MAGNUS

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is now in a position to state the terms of the option of the purchase of the interests of the firm of Messrs. Read, Holliday, and Sons, Limited; and, if not, when the terms of the option will be announced; and whether an opportunity will be given to the House to discuss the terms?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

The terms of the option to which the hon. Member refers will necessarily be disclosed in the prospectus of the new company, which will be issued very shortly. As I stated in reply to the hon. Member for Hammersmith on the 1st March, it will be for the directors of the new company to decide at their discretion whether the option shall be exercised. I do not think, therefore, that any useful purpose could be served by a discussion on this subject in the House.

Sir P. MAGNUS

Will the terms of the option of purchase be set out fully in detail in the prospectus?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

Yes.

Mr. BOOTH

Will the prospectus be issued before this House adjourns for holidays, so that it may be reviewed?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

I do not know the exact date on which it will be issued, but I understood that it was to be issued in the course of a day or two.

Mr. HOGGE

Who are the directors?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

I cannot tell that.

Mr. HOGGE

Are there any Members of this House?

Mr. HEWINS

Is the prospectus ready?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

I understand that the prospectus is ready, but I am not responsible for the issue of the prospectus. It will be issued by the promoters of the company and not by me.

19. Sir P. MAGNUS

asked how, under the Government scheme for increasing the production of dye stuffs, it is intended to expend the proposed Grant of £100,000 for research; to what extent the universities will participate in that Grant; whether the suggested research work will be to any extent under the direction and supervision of the proposed new company; and whether a staff of chemists is to be appointed to pursue researches in laboratories to be established and equipped in the works of Messrs. Read, Holliday, and Sons, if and when taken over by the new company?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

The research Grant to which the hon. Member refers will be made to the new company, and accordingly it will be for the directors to determine the manner in which it can best be utilised for the purposes of research and experiment.

Sir P. MAGNUS

Are the universities to have no share in the Grant which is being given by the Government?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

I cannot say that. I understand that the intention is that the universities should supply a great deal of the knowledge and research work, of which advantage will be taken.

Sir P. MAGNUS

Will the Government make an equivalent Grant to the universities?

Sir F. CAWLEY

In case the directors think it wise to retain it in their own hands, will they be allowed to do so?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

I have already said, in reply to a supplementary question, that the intention is that any knowledge which is acquired as a result of this research work should be made available under licence.

Sir P. MAGNUS

In giving this large Grant for research, almost the first Grant of this kind over given by the Government, will the Government exercise no control whatever over the company as to the allocation of the fund?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

I do not think that that arises out of the question. The Government have not yet abandoned all control over the allocation of the fund, nor is this the first case in which large sums have been given for scientific research. Large sums have been given for agricultural research and other matters during the last few years.

Sir P. MAGNUS

I said so large a sum.