§ 14. Mr. EDEasked the President of the Board of Trade the number of applications for patents that have been submitted to his Department but have not been adjudicated upon; whether he has received any representations from the Association of British Chambers of Commerce or other similar organisation that undue congestion and delay occur in this matter; and what steps, if any, he proposes to take to remedy the existing state of affairs?
§ Viscount WOLMERThe number of applications for patents awaiting examination in the Patent Office is approximately 6,000. The congestion of work has been principally due to the arrears caused by war conditions, and the revival of foreign applications suspended during the War. Every possible step has been taken by a temporary increase of the staff and otherwise, to remedy the existing conditions, and the arrears have been reduced by over 3,000 cases during the last two years at an increasing rate, and I have every hope that the return to normal conditions will not long be delayed. Representations with regard to the congestion of work in the Patent Office were received from the Association of British 2134 Chambers of Commerce some time ago, and since then they have expressed themselves as satisfied with the steps which have been taken to deal with the arrears.