124. Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTasked whether patents relating to munitions are open to public inspection; and, if so, whether such a provision is considered to be in the public interest?
Mr. ROBERTSMy hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. Section 18 (b) of the Defence of the Realm Regulations gives the Comptroller-General of Patents power to delay acceptance of the complete specification and to prohibit publication of inventions which are the subject of patent applications where such action is necessary in the public interest, and this power is exercised in all proper eases, under the advice of the Admiralty and Army Council.