§ 1. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the serious complaints which are being made by applicants for patents and applicants for the registration of trade marks on account of the delay which takes place before these applications are dealt with; 966 whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that, in the case of some patents, applications filed in December last have not yet been reported on, and that nearly two months elapses before an applicant for the registration of a trade mark is informed as to whether his mark is accepted; if he can account for this delay, especially since the registration fees for trade marks have been doubled; and if he will inquire into the matter with a view to ensuring greater expedition in the treatment of these applications in the future?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Sir W. Mitchell-Thomson)I would refer to the answer which I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Leith on the 14th July. The position of trade marks is, so far as arrears are concerned, analogous to that of patents.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYMay I have an answer to the last part of the question—whether the President of the Board of Trade is looking into the matter?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONYes, I am looking into it.